Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III and Gen. Edward A. Rice Jr., commander of Air Education and Training Command, appear before the House Armed Services Committee on Jan. 23, 2013, for a hearing on sexual misconduct at Basic Military Training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Welsh and Rice discussed the findings of the Basic Military Training commander-directed investigation and efforts to stop sexual assault within the service. (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)
Gen. Edward A. Rice Jr., commander of Air Education and Training Command, testifies before the House Armed Services Committee on Jan. 23, 2013, for a hearing on sexual misconduct at Basic Military Training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)
Gen. Edward A. Rice Jr., commander of Air Education and Training Command and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III appear before the House Armed Services Committee on Jan. 23, 2013, for a hearing on sexual misconduct at Basic Military Training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Rice and Welsh discussed the findings of the Basic Military Training commander-directed investigation and efforts to stop sexual assault within the service. (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III and Gen. Edward A. Rice Jr., commander of Air Education and Training Command, appear before the House Armed Services Committee on Jan. 23, 2013, for a hearing on sexual misconduct at Basic Military Training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Welsh and Rice discussed the findings of the Basic Military Training commander-directed investigation and efforts to stop sexual assault within the service. (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)
1/23/2013 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Following a nine-month investigation into sexual misconduct at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in San Antonio, the Air Force has implemented a comprehensive program aimed at eliminating sexual assault, senior Air Force leaders told Congress today.
Air Force Chief Of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III and Air Force Gen. Edward A. Rice Jr., the commander of the service's Air Education and Training Command, spoke before the House Armed Services Committee about the Air Force's recently completed internal investigation.
Describing the crimes as "stunning," Welsh said there could be no excuses. "There's no justifiable explanation, and there is no way we can allow this to happen again," he said.
"The Air Force goal for sexual assault is not simply to lower the number. The goal is zero," Welsh added. "It's the only acceptable objective. The impact on every victim, their family, their friends [and] the other people in their unit is heart-wrenching, and attacking this cancer is a full-time job, and we are giving it our full attention."
The effort includes an Air Force-wide health and welfare inspection, held in December, the results of which are publicly available, Welsh said. Also last month, Welsh used his monthly "Letter to Airmen" to reinforce "that obscene, vulgar or disrespectful images, songs or so-called 'traditions' are not part of our heritage and will not be accepted as part of our culture."
In addition, a Recruiting Education and Training Oversight Council will be established, Rice said, to review and advise any current or future actions undertaken to eliminate sexual assault. The council also will provide advice on strategic issues affecting airman safety and the maintenance of good order and discipline in basic military training, he added.
More than 7,700 interviews were conducted as part of the investigation, Rice said. When contact information was available, anyone who graduated from basic military training within the past 10 years was interviewed, he added.
"Although we have conducted a 10-year look back, the vast majority of the allegations are of alleged misconduct that occurred over the past three years," Rice said.
Allegations ranged from sexual assault to inappropriate contact with former students, Rice said. Each victim or alleged victim was offered "the full range of available victim support services," he added.
Of the 855 personnel assigned as military training instructors during this three-year period, 32 -- less than 4 percent -- have been disciplined or are now under investigation, Rice said.
"I believe it is important to underscore that the vast majority of our instructors served with distinction in a very demanding duty assignment," Rice said. "That said, it is completely unacceptable to us that so many of our instructors have committed crimes or violated our policies, and we clearly failed in our responsibility to maintain good order and discipline among too many of our instructors in basic military training."
Maintaining good order and discipline is one of the most important and fundamental responsibilities of command, Rice said, one that "cannot be delegated."
With that in mind, Air Force officials are focusing their efforts on helping commanders meet this "fundamental responsibility," he said.
"The Air Force has recommitted itself to ensuring that every airman is treated with respect," Welsh said. "It's not a one-time fix. It has to be a way of life."
With "no room for misunderstanding," Welsh said, every Air Force supervisor and commander must be actively engaged in this effort. "If they don't get actively engaged, I consider them part of the problem," he added.
While it is still early, Rice said, it appears that the Air Force's efforts are making an impact. There have been no reports of sexual misconduct in basic military training in the past seven months, he noted. "We know this is not the beginning of the end, but the end of the beginning of a journey that can never end," he said.
"The American people trust us with their greatest treasure: their sons and daughters," Welsh said. "They expect us to lead them with honor, to value each of them, and to treat them as if they were our own. We do not have a greater responsibility than that.
"I will never stop attacking this problem. ... The United States Air Force leadership team will never quit working to eliminate this horrible crime from the ranks of our Air Force," he said.
Comments
2/13/2013 10:58:20 AM ET The only question I have as a member of the military that has been accused and acquitted nothing happened to her I went through months of investigation and worry Even tho no sexual contact was made just the fact of being in that situation is more than enough stress for anyone to handle. So why are the victims not punished when its false accusations and they turn up that they lied why dont they get kicked out or any punishment given to them
Michael, California
2/12/2013 10:18:40 AM ET Until our culture truly learns to view criminal behavior as criminal we will continue to have a problem. It is criminal for men to treat women as inferior and visa-verse yet our children see it every day whether at home on television or in the lives of their friends. All men and women were created equal and have certain inalienable rights... We need to understand this as the founding fathers meant it. We do not have the right to take what we want we do not have the right to impose our will on others. We have the right to live peaceful lives free of molestation from anyone else including verbal physical mental and emotional. Our society is broken and until we mend it at its core our AF will continue to bleed through the legislative Band-Aid.
XSA, Maryland
2/12/2013 7:13:28 AM ET I was in BMT in spring 2008 my IT never crossed the line with any of us. We had a male IT for the female flight. When Airman were called in to the office for whatever reason there was ALWAYS at least one other female Airman there He did that to protect everyone. People need to be disciplined for the wrong they have done and shown to the gate. How can we deployed do daily work center tasks with these members and feel safe that they can do the mission and protect the troops that they are deployed with when Airman are worried they we will violated.
NCO, Maryland
2/9/2013 12:04:58 PM ET This is a very emotional topic for me. I was violated by a person of the same sex when I was 14 years old and I never reported it. This assault from a 36 year old man scarred me for life. I take moral issues very seriously in the military and I will speak my mind when necessary when I see potential problems. I'm sorry folks but I feel like I am being held to double standards. This site is soliciting comments from airmen on this topic. With the DADT repeal I felt very threatened. When I learned a gay marriage was performed at Ft Paulk LA a direct violation of the Defense of Marriage Act and Louisiana State law. I didn't say anything thing then. On Dec 2 2012 I learned of a gay marriage type ceremony had been performed at West Point Military Academy in one of their base chapels. This military installation is supposed to be an example of excellence. That was a bridge too far for me and I finally had to say something. Under my rights of conscience I wrote an email
Layne, Utah
2/7/2013 11:52:31 AM ET I find it interesting about the segregation of the sexes being the answer. Now that DADT is out how does segregation fix anything If anything sexually morality being more loose in the military you will have the possibility of all kinds of sexual assault not just male-female. Therefore any sexual assault must be taken into account. Believe me this is a different AF than when I was AD and will continue to be more-so as morality changes.
Brown, Texas
2/4/2013 10:44:00 AM ET What many of you have obviously missed is that most if not all of it was consensual sex...not rape. It was consensual yet she is not punished. All of these women are not victims. A woman old enough to join the military is certainly old enough to know what's right and what's wrong and whether she needs to report it or not. As someone stated previously when we were in Basic men were on one side of the base and women on the other...we had male instructors they had female instructors and there were never issues. Using the military for social experiments is never a good idea yet our mamby-pamby Generals and Congressional leadership can't see it.
Retired SNCO, Warner Robins GA
2/4/2013 10:00:46 AM ET Sexual assault is not just an Air Force problem it's a military problem. The film The Invisible War highlights a key underlying cause the military's traditional policy of allowing the chain of command rather than police and prosecutors to decide on and pursue criminal prosecution in sexual assualt cases. I believe that has just recently been overturned and am surprised it was not addressed in this article.
Dean, Ohio
2/1/2013 1:34:21 PM ET What this is about is abuse of power to gain sexual favors. BMT Chief Gurney high ranking officials etc. Not sure what Rick in Utah is trying to say except he implies we are biologically wired to have unprofessional relationships and the AF should just accept that. Really This is not about two consenting adults having a relationship this is abuse of power and position and is very fixable
Eric, Utah
1/31/2013 11:24:22 AM ET Why has nothing be said yet about false accusations and the fact that many a false accusation has led to innocent men getting in trouble I certainly didn't enjoy being falsely accused of sexual assault.
Rick, Utah
1/31/2013 11:14:10 AM ET We want zero sexual assaults yet we believe the jounrey to zero can never end disrespectful images and logos are not part of our heritage yet they hang in our military museums men and women can serve side by side and we expect no sexual tension to exist between two species biologically programmed to view each other in a sexual way
Rick, Utah
1/31/2013 10:29:47 AM ET I believe everyone has over looked the real issue. It isn't the responsibility of BMT to raise our children to grow up to be responsible and productive citizens in society. It is the parents of these children. You dont need money to have moral values. A reporter asked a couple How did you manage to stay together for 65 years The women replied We were born in a time when if something was broken we fix it not throw it away...
Kim, Utah
1/31/2013 2:42:57 AM ET When I enlisted in March of 1969 we went to basic training with a fear of the unknown. We did mot live or train with women. We were kept apart for a reason. When I came out of basic training and technical school in August 1959 I did so with pride in my accomplishments but with a humbleness that I was giving something back to America in my own small way. My pay as an Airman Basic was 105.20 before taxes so money was not my motivation. My training instructor I will call him SSgt Jones told us on our last day in basic that everytime he screamed at us hitr us or humiliated us it was not personal but for a reason. Men going into the service today have no fear consequently they think they are God's gift to women and have no respect and do not see their female counterparts as anything but fellow airmen. Put fear back into basic training both enlisted and officer training. Love of country should be the agenda for serving not one's own agenda. Ralph Moerschbacher Captain USAF R
Ralph Moerschbacher, Avis PA
1/30/2013 1:38:29 PM ET I read all these comments and just wonder where all this started. I served from 1968 to 1989 almost entirely in England and I doubt I ever witnessed problems of this nature or blatant faternization interaction between Officers and enlisted just did not see it. Maybe I was not looking as I was too busy doing my job and taking care of my people when I got senior enough to lead them.
SNCO Ret 89, SW Ohio
1/29/2013 2:51:09 PM ET Setsunna you are confusing the fairness of measuring effort expended during a PT test with the gender-neutral reality of hand to hand combat and sustained dismounted operations with 90 pounds of gear. These career fields' activities require different tasks than those currently open especially TACP where you carry your comm gear as you and the Army unit you support hike through the mountains of Afghanistan for weeks on end. This isn't a situation where you get out of a convoy fire a weapon then get back to the FOB within a few hours. The physical tasks required in some of these positions must be accomplished without regard to how much effort the member expends the rucksack doesn't care if you tried harder than the man who doesn't have two weights on his chest as you said and the insurgent who is fighting in close quarters combat doesn't care how hard you are trying. It is the objective ability to do the physical task that matters not the amount of effort expended in
Zulu, CONUS
1/29/2013 9:34:24 AM ET Actually several studies have been conducted to support MSgt Retired 2010. One seminal work is by Maj Christopher Urdzik. Check out the following links.Urdzik Christopher J. Sexual Ethics Organizational Climate and the Air Expeditionary Force. 2005 httphandle.dtic.mil100.2ADA476183Russell Jeffrey C. An History of the Development of Fraternization Policies 1998 httphandle.dtic.mil100.2ADA354245Air Force Instruction 36-2909. Professional and Unprofessional Relationships. May 1 1999httpwww.e-publishing.af.milsharedmediaepubsAFI36-2909.pdf
SNCO Retired, scott
1/29/2013 8:39:56 AM ET Isn't ironic that the Marines and The Navy don't have nearly the problem the Air Force does with sexual assault and harrassment? Could that be because of the segregation of the sexes in basic as well as the strict adherance to rank and faternization policies? I think the Air Force needs to stop blaming it on Pin-Up Girl posters and take a look at it's lax dicipline.
Lt. Dale Hawkins, Data Masked
1/25/2013 3:23:42 PM ET I'd also like an explanation from MSgt Retired 2010. Your comments about fraternization may be true but to link that to assault without stating facts to support that theory is wrong. Fraternization is fraternization. Assault is assault.
Paul, SATX
1/25/2013 2:51:29 PM ET I believe the death penalty for rape discussion refers to the 8th amendment in Coker v. Georgia 433 U.S. 584 1977 the Court declared that the death penalty was unconstitutionally excessive for rape of a woman and by implication for any crime where a death does not occur. The majority in Coker stated that rape by definition does not include the death of or even the serious injury to another person. The dissent countered that the majority takes too little account of the profound suffering the crime imposes upon the victims and their loved ones. The dissent also characterized the majority as myopic for only considering legal history of the past five years. So in reality death penalty does not apply
SNCO Ret, Scott
1/25/2013 2:06:24 PM ET The best way to end this pandemic Harsher punishments strip these people of their rank toss them in Levinworth. Rules should apply to everyone no matter how long you've been in or what rank you are. Some hard labor sentences and long jail time would send a clear message. You WILL be punished regardless of who you are. Also have them registered as sex offenders that's what they are after all.Reading of so many escaping justice makes me angry and ashamed of my fellow man.
Derek, Louisianna
1/25/2013 1:06:01 PM ET There is no place in the constitution where it forbids imposition of the death penalty for rape.
David, Undisclosed
1/25/2013 11:01:09 AM ET Remember that the UCMJ is a statute written by Congress and subject to restrictions imposed by the federal Constitution. Congress can write anything they want e.g. death penalty for rape but in this case the Constitution forbids imposition of the death penalty for rape. There was even a recent US Supreme Court case where the death penalty for child rape was struck. The courts balance the Constitution against military law differently than they do for civilian laws but this one isn't going to fly.
Zulu, CONUS
1/25/2013 7:53:01 AM ET @MSgtRetired 2010 please tells us the facts that support what you have said. I don't understand how fraternization is related to assaulting someone. A assault is a CRIMINAL act. It don't matter what the person wears on hisher sleeve or lapel.
Vaporhead, USA
1/25/2013 3:35:13 AM ET The problem with the Air Force and sexual harrassment is the excessive fraternization--too many enlisted hanging out with officers. This breakdown in good order and discipline has indirectly fed the current situation and created an incurable problem. I am glad to no longer be SNCOAirman.
MSgt Retired 2010, Colorado
1/25/2013 1:21:41 AM ET @ Margaret. The problem is the young officers you referenced are being assigned to perform these inspections and sit on these councils in addition to the duties they are normally expected to do. Everyone works for someone else and is doing the best they can to meet objectives set before them It's a different AF than it was 15 10 and even 5 years ago. To point the finger at a certain age group or rank level in the AF is shortsighted. It is everyone's responsibilty to stop SA not just junior officers.
JD, OCONUS
1/24/2013 8:16:03 PM ET In response to the A1C it does state exactly what you said however there is more to that where it says or any other punishment as deemed necessary. In response to Patricia not all of us junior officers or flight commanders lack leadrership. There are always going to be those types but it is not fair to judge all of us as having poor leadership. I agree that we are to be involved. We really do not just sit in our offices all day and attend meetings. There are plenty of opportunities for officers to be engaged. I know that I am. I talk to many people on a daily basis both enlisted and officer sometimes just to say hi and see how they are doing. In response to Bob. The office idea is a great idea but I also agree with what you are saying and it's a wonderful thing to do
2Lt, Alaska
1/24/2013 3:07:23 PM ET I believe there is no set amount of briefing or programs that can cure this problem. Unfortunatly people will do whatever they can to get what they want. We see it everyday in every aspect of our lives. We need to get back to basics thats for sure. Sexual assault is just one layer of a very bitter onion. I believe our higher staff should hold punishment in such crimes to a more harsh standard then just a smack on the a. There are so many people in this Air Force who get away with some very disturbing crimes who are allowed to continue serving and leading. It starts with our officers. If they are not held to a higher standard than how dare they hold the enlisted to anything higher than what they perform at. I hope that one day an officer sits down and starts thinking logically about the problems in the military. Im sick of this politically correct garbage which keeps these officers from ever standing on their own two feet. I pray for the day that order be restored to the ranks
NCO, Travis
1/24/2013 2:53:35 PM ET The sincerity of these leaders would be believable if there were not two separate UCMJ's One for those in a high enough position that they are allowed to simply retire when they abuse thier authority and one for those who are stripped of everything that made them one of US and Dishonorably Discharged. When that happens to a few of those perfumed prince's maybe senior leaders will earn back the trust of the rank and file
Steven Retired SNCO, Undisclosed
1/24/2013 2:47:26 PM ET The social experiment of putting recruits of differnt sexes in the same dorms with opposite sex MTIs HAS FAILED. In 1976 when I enlisted you never even saw a female much less had a chance to touch her. Some things were better off the way they were.
Mike, Birmingham
1/24/2013 2:27:16 PM ET I am curious how General Rice is still in his position when three commanders below him have been firedremoved. Was there also not just an article published that there was 40 explicit magazines at AETC HQ which he is in charge of
Evelyn, JBSA
1/24/2013 1:38:53 PM ET I went through Basic at the EXACT time all this occured and no one contacted me or many in my flight for that matter. This article is VERY misleading.
Heather, California
1/24/2013 1:07:31 PM ET The BMT scandal may be the worst in the Air Force's history. How come Gen Rice didn't face any type of reprimand over it...it's his Command Or the NAF Commander that Lackland falls under And what happened to Gen Rice's Command Chief after this embarassment...he was selected as the new CMSAF And what about the CMSgt that oversees BMT I understand that smaller issues should be handled as such but this scandal is probably the biggest black eye the Air Force has had
John, San Antonio
1/24/2013 10:28:06 AM ET Every time I read an article about what our senior leadership plans to do about eliminating rape and sexual assault from our Air Force all I can do is shake my head because I believe they are overlooking unwilling to use the one Ace in the Hole that they have. Article 120 of the UCMJ states that rape is punishable by Death. Sexual assault should be added to that article and death should be the punishment sought in all cases. I believe that if even one person faced a firing squad or the gallows it would signficantly reduce the amount of rapesexual assault even eliminate it. If no one is going to reinforce death as punishment for such heinous crimes then it needs to be removed from the UCMJ.
A1C, Eglin
1/24/2013 9:45:46 AM ET Honestly the Flight Commanders and Junior Officers are not showing the leadership they once did and aren't being held accountable. Involvement has to start with them as well. It's time they started paying attention and being involved in their flights not working in their offices and attending meetings all day.
Margaret, Arizona
1/24/2013 8:36:20 AM ET Sexual assault shoul also include a no tolerance policy for sexual harrassment against men an women in AF Military Reserves and Civil Service. For example if a male superior calls a subordinate names such as MF the superior should be repriminded rather than the subordinate be ignored retaliated against or even demoted for other reasons.
mike stevens, Avon Park AFR FL
1/24/2013 7:59:16 AM ET Their resolve is admirable but you cant fix it with another program office. You have to be apart of your people to see how things are going. Say maybe leaders just popping up out of nowhere and randomly but frequently just to see how it's going. Pull those trainees aside and ask them how it's going and be arbitrary about your visit. If all your troops know is you are out and about and that you could drop in at any time you can squash alot of problems.
Bob, Oklahoma
1/24/2013 5:48:51 AM ET I dont know the circumstances around the statement Patricia made but the thought should be sobering. I recently heard a Lieutenant General say that this cultural change was necessary not simply because the Chief of Staff said so or because the Lackland scandal made national news but because his daughter was a recent accession and he wanted the Air Force to be a place where she could serve proudly and safely. I could not agree more. I want the Air Force to be a place where my daughter could safely serve if she chooses to do so.
Douglas Pietersma, Undisclosed
1/23/2013 4:03:06 PM ET It's about time. When I enlisted in 1973 I thought sexual harrassment was a pre-requisite to being promoted.
