Tuesday, August 22, 2006

military recruiters cited for sexual misconduct

military recruiters cited for sexual misconductfrom ap/yahoo: More than 100 young women who expressed interest in joining the military in the past year were preyed upon sexually by their recruiters. Women were raped on recruiting office couches, assaulted in government cars and groped en route to entrance exams.

A six-month Associated Press investigation found that more than 80 military recruiters were disciplined last year for sexual misconduct with potential enlistees. The cases occurred across all branches of the military and in all regions of the country.

"This should never be allowed to happen," said one 18-year-old victim. "The recruiter had all the power. He had the uniform. He had my future. I trusted him."

At least 35 Army recruiters, 18 Marine Corps recruiters, 18 Navy recruiters and 12 Air Force recruiters were disciplined for sexual misconduct or other inappropriate behavior with potential enlistees in 2005, according to records obtained by the AP under dozens of Freedom of Information Act requests. That's significantly more than the handful of cases disclosed in the past decade.


from ap/yahoo: The ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee said Sunday he would push to increase penalties for sexual misconduct by military recruiters.

Rep. Ike Skelton was reacting to an investigation by The Associated Press that found more than 80 military recruiters were disciplined last year for sexual misconduct with potential recruits.

"These abuses by military recruiters are absolutely unacceptable," the Missouri Democrat said in a telephone interview from Washington. "The National Guard's recently adopted rule of 'No One Alone' makes a great deal of sense and should be followed by all services, whether active duty, National Guard or reserve."

The No One Alone policy prohibits male recruiters from being alone in offices or anywhere else with female enlistees. Violators risk immediate disciplinary action, and other recruiters who know of violations and don't report them also can be disciplined.

No comments:

Post a Comment