This story can be read by clicking this link. It was published in the Monday February 8th, 2010 Edition of the Fredericton Daily Gleaner Newspaper.
John Fife doesn't want any soldier to have to go through what he had to endure during the last four years.
The commander of The Second Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (2RCR), was harassed during that time by a subordinate, creating a huge upheaval in his professional and personal life.
It came to a conclusion in late January when Capt. Luc Plourde pleaded guilty at a court martial to striking a superior officer and committing acts to the prejudice of good order and discipline, offences under the National Defence Act.
"I know there are several people out there, including myself, who have had their lives turned upside down by this individual and the public accusations he made in the media across N.B.," Fife, a lieutenant-colonel, said in an interview with The Daily Gleaner.
During the court martial, both sides agreed to a written statement of circumstances, outlining how the offences were committed and to an agreed statement of fact.
Judge Cmdr. Peter Lamont imposed a severe reprimand on Plourde, a former base public affairs officer and employee at Combat Training Centre headquarters, and fined him $2,500.
The prejudice of good order and discipline charge relates to statements Plourde made as a municipal councillor April 19, 2007, in which he resigned his council seat.
At the time, Plourde said he was no longer able to perform town-related duties for fear of reprisals from senior officers on base.
Fife said he was one of the individuals named.
"He accused us of municipal corruption," Fife said. "I don't understand how he could even make that link other than once again to put, what I call, a ridiculous accusation out there, with no proof."
Fife said when a person elected to office makes damaging public statements about individuals and those statements are carried by the media, someone is bound to listen.
"Essentially, it is almost impossible to take it back after it has been stated or published."
In earlier interviews, Plourde said his problem with the military could be traced to a Nov. 15, 2005, television interview he did as a councillor on improper garbage disposal within the military community.
Under military rules, a soldier can serve as a municipal councillor but can't identify himself or herself as being an Armed Forces member when performing those duties.
During the court martial, it was revealed that Plourde had been diagnosed with anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder and possible bipolar disorder.
The defence argued that Plourde's mental illnesses were a contributing factor to the offences, although that argument was rejected by the court martial judge.
Fife, a former chief of staff at the Combat Training Centre, said he respects the decision of the court martial but would have appreciated an opportunity to tell his side of the story.
He wasn't allowed to address the court or to provide a victim impact statement.
Fife said Plourde sent unflattering emails about several officers, including Fife, to almost every Member of Parliament, the prime minister, the Governor General, along with nearly every senior officer in the chain of command.
That list included the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Land Staff, Commander of Land Force Doctrine and Training System, and the Commander of Land Force Atlantic Area.
"I don't know the Governor General or the prime minister or even a lot of the senior officers (which) that email was sent to but I think that whenever they hear the name Fife, they'll associate it with some pretty disparaging remarks. How do you undo the damage?"
The striking a superior officer charge against Plourde involved a different officer.
Ryan Jestin, commander of CFB Gagetown from 2005 to 2007, said Plourde wasn't targeted by senior officers.
"I believe we were trying to help him see that there needs to be a dividing line between his work on council and his work as a military member," Jestin said. "He continually blurred that line and then refused to acknowledge it."
Jestin said Plourde failed to understand that he had two masters - one as a military member, the other as a member of town council.
"The bottom line was that his baseless accusations had a terrible impact on both (another officer) and John," Jestin said. "They were consummate professionals, but his attacks were relentless and personal."
Fife, who grew up and went to school in Oromocto, said he was investigated by the National Investigative Service, the RCMP on two occasions, and by an independent harassment investigator.
"I don't know what I did to deserve what I got," Fife said. "I honestly don't. In some ways, you kind of wish you could point to something ... but I honestly don't know of anything.
He used every resource available within the CF to have people investigated."
Fife said he and another officer hired a civilian lawyer to stop the harassment. He said the move was not motivated by the need to get a monetary settlement but to protect their reputations and dignity.
Fife said he intends to address his concerns through the proper chain of command.
"I trust that my superiors will do what is appropriate to ensure no soldier has to go through this process again."
Despite all that's happened, Fife said he wishes Plourde, who's in the process of leaving the military, a speedy recovery.
"I hope he gets whatever help he needs and wants."
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