Soldier in cheating probe pulls tests, answers from website

[unhappycamper]

Soldier in cheating probe pulls tests, answers from website
By Bryan Bender, Globe Staff | July 27, 2007

WASHINGTON -- The Army has ordered the soldier who operates ShamSchool, a website at the center of an investigation into allegations of widespread cheating on military promotion exams, to remove all copies of tests and answers for Army correspondence courses from the site.

The order, issued Wednesday, accused Army Specialist Adam Chrysler of "substandard conduct" and "bringing discredit to the Army." It stated that if Chrysler, 28, did not comply, then he could be kicked out of the service, given a dishonorable discharge, or face other charges.

Chrysler, in a note posted on the site yesterday, expressed anger over the order, but said he has complied.

The move by Chrysler's company commander marked the first disciplinary action since the 101st Airborne Division launched earlier this month an investigation into allegations that thousands of soldiers, seeking to gain extra promotion points, cheated on the Army Correspondence Course Program by using ShamSchool and other sites to obtain the actual tests and answers.

"In contrast to a 'study guide,' the website contains images of ACCP exams complete with answers," the one-page order said. "Enabling soldiers to cheat on ACCP exams by downloading images of exams with answers for their use on real exams undermines the integrity of the Army Distance Learning Program. Accordingly, you are ordered to remove images of ACCP exams from www.shamschool.com . . . to maintain good order and discipline within the Army."

The document added that "the order is not intended to infringe upon your free speech rights under the 1st Amendment. However, it is narrowly tailored to restrict your ability to publish information, documents, and images that undermine good order and discipline in the service and bring discredit upon the Army."


more