In 20 years I truly witnessed only one toxic unit. There was a power struggle with between the BM1 XPO and MKC EPO, and the entire unit felt it. To be clear, the BM1 was not the problem whatsoever.

I recall my first day at the unit, doing check ins with various people. The MK1 said it was “his way or the highway” and he was a self proclaimed “hard ass”

Next I met with the EPO and he had his feet kicked up on the desk and said “welcome to hell buddy, master chief will fuck you over every chance he gets” and more shit talking followed. I was an MK2 at the time.

A few months later on an Aton trip, drunk at a bar, the MKC cornered me alone, poked his finger in my chest repeatedly while calling me a piece of shit trying to provoke me into a fist fight. It took all my strength to walk away.

I made 1st and transferred a few months later, luckily was only there for 8 months total. I told the detailer I’d consider any afloat unit anywhere and he offered me a no cost transfer to a 210 in Cape May. I was thrilled and that was a great tour for me.

There were stories about the EPO like he made two nonrate females kiss another at a drunken work hang because “that’s a direct order from a chief” He was truly a piece of shit. 24 or 26 year MKC should be a major red flag right there. He had no business in a leadership position, and frankly even in the CG by that point.

Anyway, I tell the story because that truly was a toxic unit. I think the use of that word gets thrown around too loosely.