Multiple Army instructors suspended over alleged sexual assault of a trainee at Fort Sill

[Solly Mack]

Agents from Army Criminal Investigation Command are investigating the allegations leveled at Fort Sill cadre, according to a Fort Sill press release. Officials said the “potentially involved” cadre, which typically includes officers and noncommissioned officers responsible for conducting and overseeing the training of new soldiers, have all been suspended and removed from the trainee environment.

Fort Sill instructors suspended after trainee alleges sexual assault

Fort Sill commander Maj. Gen. Ken Kamper told reporters Thursday that the trainee reported the incident March 27 and an investigation was launched within hours.

A person familiar with the incident told Army Times that more than 20 individuals were under investigation in the wake of the initial report, and there are potentially more victims based on the allegations.

Sexual assault allegations at Fort Sill draw Oklahoma lawmakers' concerns

Military instructors suspended at Fort Sill after soldier in training alleges sexual assault

Maj. Gen. Ken Kamper said at a Thursday press briefing that the trainee assigned to Fort Sill in Oklahoma reported a sexual assault to officials at the base on Saturday, according to the Lawton Constitution.

"This soldier who came forward with allegations of sexual assault is absolutely safe. She has special victims counsel and access to all victim services,” Kamper said. “We’re just heartbroken, just sad, sad that something like this happened. On a personal level, it is just heartbreaking."

Kamper said all cadres involved in the alleged assault have been either suspended or removed from training environments. A cadre is any soldier, besides trainees, assigned permanently to a training unit. He did not say when the alleged assault took place.

Kamper added Fort Sill is prepared for further investigations if more victims come forward.

A cadre in a training battalion can have up 50 (plus) members, for example. Give or take. Cadre is the leadership. So many per platoon, so many per company, so many per battalion. Which means there was more than one platoon or company involved - had to be battalion-wide. So more victims are very likely. Almost a given, sadly. Disgustingly.

I'd be banned if I typed what I was thinking.

[niyad]

1. May they all rot in hell.

[Solly Mack]

2. I'm OK with them rotting...somewhere.

[niyad]

3. A deserted island somewhere. Preferably not near any major shipping lanes.

[Hekate]

4. Rot. In. Hell.

[Solly Mack]

9. I don't believe in hell but I can see them rotting. Somewhere. In my mind's eye.

[monkeyman1]

5. i can see Leavenworth in there future !! the military hell hole !! not a fun place !

[Solly Mack]

8. Most likely. Fort Sill also houses a prison. Conveniently enough.

[monkeyman1]

10. forgot about that one ! thank's

[Solly Mack]

12. Easy to forget it. It's not well known. Doesn't usually house violent offenders - though

it's more about how much time a person gets. Less than 5, Fort Sill or one of the others. Leavenworth for more than 5 years, reductions in ranks, and level of crime. Well, OK. The last time I knew about how it worked.

Hubby retired a few years ago, so things could have changed.

[AllyCat]

6. Why does our society tolerate men treating women like this?

Unacceptable! Should have been stopped by someone but they all go along.

[Solly Mack]

7. A long history of misogyny and patriarchy.

How unsatisfying that answer is, yes?

Believe me, I know.

[monkeyman1]

11. dishonorable discharge & loss of military benefits coming up !

[Scrivener7]

14. How about jail? Because, you know, sexual assault is illegal.

[maxrandb]

17. See Gaetz and Donnie Dipshit for examples

Over 70 Million of our fellow citizens voted for people that treat women like cattle, and it's not just the men.

Bam-Bam Boebert married the guy that showed her his junk when she was 17, and let's not forget the women proudly wearing the "T***p Can Grab My P***y" shirts.

Hell, the Retrumplicans were selling those shirts.

Want to know why it happens? We allow it.

[malaise]

18. Our society?

You think this is only happening in the US?

Violence against women is now on steroids in these pandemic times here in Jamaica.

At least five women were killed (and another one is missing) this week alone. What's worse is they all knew their killers.

[Scrivener7]

13. More than 6000 sexual assaults in the army last year, according to the article, and it appears that

the spokesman's primary concern is to say, "Yes, see, we really are investigating this one." Like they want a prize for doing something any non-psychopathic person or group would do.

And this seems to involve multiple victims and multiple perpetrators.

[rickyhall]

15. Soldiers can't be trained to keep their hands off each other? Aren't they adults?

I guess I'm weird, my mom, grandma & aunts raised me to respect women. I'm not perfect but damn...

[Phoenix61]

16. I never realized how young leadership in the

military is until I went to work on a base. My base commander wasn’t even 40! They are old enough to retire at 38 for most enlisted, 42 for most officers. That means mid-level management is early 30’s and beginning management is early 20’s. So basically, you have a bunch of kids in charge with very little oversight.

[GopherGal]

19. I'm not crazy about your use of "each other" there.

I don't think the problem is mutual handiness, rather the lack of mutuality.

On edit, after reading this:

According to The Intercept, the trainee reported multiple assaults by 22 service members, including several drill sergeants. The trainee’s report “identified seven of the 22 members she said assaulted her,” according to The Intercept. An Army spokesperson declined to specify the number of suspects involved.

Ugh. Utterly toxic abuse of authority.