Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Air Force Basic Training Sex Scandal

As a former Air Force enlisted man, I find this disgusting
From the El Paso Times: From a chapel pulpit on Lackland Air Force Base, where every American airman reports for basic training, Col. Glenn Palmer delivered his first order to nearly 600 recruits seated in the pews: If you're sexually harassed or assaulted, tell someone.
"My job is to give you a safe, effective training environment," Palmer said firmly.
What the colonel did not mention directly was a widening sex scandal that has rocked the base, one of the nation's busiest military training centers. Allegations that male instructors had sex with, and in one case raped, female trainees have led to criminal charges against four men. Charges against others are possible.
The most serious accusations surround an Air Force staff sergeant scheduled to face a court-martial in July on charges that include rape and multiple counts of aggravated sexual assault. The other three defendants were charged with lesser crimes ranging from sexual misconduct to adultery. All of the defendants were assigned to turn raw recruits into airmen in eight weeks of basic training.
A two-star general is now investigating alongside a separate criminal probe, which military prosecutors say could sweep up more airmen. Advocates for female service members and members of Congress have started taking notice.
"It's a pretty big scandal the Air Force is having to deal with at this point," said Greg Jacob, a former Marine infantry officer and policy director of the Service Women's Action Network. 
 http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_20935424/widening-sex-scandal-rocks-texas-air-force-base?source=rss_viewed
When a person and in this case a female recruit, are in basic training, they are highly stressed because of the training and being away from home and very vulnerable and when they have a drill instructor preying on them, it's just presents a horrible situation.  I also wonder if any woman recruit was sent home or back in training because they refused the drill instructor's demand for sex.
I am certainly proud that I was in the Air Force and my time at Lackland,  but I am disgusted by the behavior of the Air Force and some of their drill instructors.  The DI's need more supervision, it appears and that shouldn't have to be if these DI's, who acted, like thugs acted professionally and with honor.

2 comments:

  1. why would Palmer talk about a scandal that has hit the AP wire and all major san antonio media outlets? the trainees know what's going on, he is telling them that he encourages them to use the reporting avenues so he can rid the bad apples from the bunch. The AF is doing all it can to wrap it's arms around this, punish the guilty and make sure the victims are supported. They're not condoning it and they aren't hiding anything. These MTIs that have acted inappropriately are only a few of many many true professionals among the corps and the AF.

    ReplyDelete
  2. We Offer Loan At A Very Low Rate Of 3%. If Interested, Kindly Contact Us via email now (urgentloan22@gmail.com)

    ReplyDelete