AF leaders brief BMT sexual misconduct investigation findings

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Gen. Edward Rice Jr., commander of Air Education and Training Command, answers questions with Maj. Gen. Margaret Woodward, Air Force Chief of Safety and commander of Air Force Safety Center at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., during a Pentagon press briefing on Nov. 14, 2012. Rice presented the findings relating to Woodward's investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct at Basic Military Training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)
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• AETC Commander's Report to the Secretary of the Air Force • Commander Directed Investigation Report - Developing America's Airmen

AF leaders brief BMT sexual misconduct investigation findings

Posted 11/15/2012 Updated 11/15/2012

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by Master Sgt. Jess Harvey
Air Force Public Affairs Agency

11/15/2012 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Air Force leaders announced Nov. 14 to members of the press here the results of the commander-directed investigation regarding the occurrences of sexual misconduct within basic military training between October 2010 and June 2011.

The CDI was commissioned by Gen. Edward Rice, commander of Air Education and Training Command, June 20, 2012 based on substantiated reports of misconduct within Air Force BMT, and led by Maj. Gen. Margaret Woodward, Air Force Chief of Safety, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.

The final report included 22 findings and 46 recommendations that accurately reflect the deficiencies in the Air Force's basic military training program and provide effective proposals to remedy those deficiencies, according to Rice.

Of the 46 recommendations, Rice said AETC is working to implement 45 of them within a year's time to include the implementation of a training oversight council and ensuring there is a female instructor included on every team.

"The conditions that led to the abuse of power in basic military training are ever-present; thus, our vigilance and engagement must be persistent as well," said Rice. "To that end, I am directing the establishment of the Military Training Oversight Council, which will be chaired by a three star general."

"The purpose of this council is to ensure we have the appropriate level of leadership oversight over issues associated with trainee safety and the maintenance of good order and discipline," he said.

Another recommendation Rice highlighted was to have more female instructors in BMT because, as he pointed out, young Airmen come from all walks of life and some of them have never had been around a strong authority figure of the opposite sex but that's an integral part of the Air Force.

"They may be under the authority of a female or a male, and we want to make sure they have the full range of that experience in basic military training and this will make that happen," said Rice.

The change is to implement four-person training teams and every team will have at least one female Airman, but right now, there aren't enough female MTIs to make this happen, said Rice. The Air Force is working hard to build to that level.

"Of all the 45 recommendations, that will be the last one that we complete fully," said Rice. More female MTIs are already being recruited and trained, but like building any Airman, it takes time.

The recommendation not being implemented had to do with the length of basic training, said Rice. That's because AETC was already looking at cutting down the just over 8-week BMT schedule.

He said gaps in the schedule leave the trainees too much time to potentially get into mischief.
"I haven't rejected that recommendation," said Rice. "We are continuing to look at the proper length of basic training. It's just that we are looking at it in a different form."

According to Rice, all of the recommendations were in line with the commitment Air Force leadership has made to correct this situation. Of the 46 CDI recommendations, 20 are associated with strengthening institutional safeguards, 14 are associated with strengthening leadership, and 12 are associated with strengthening the MTI culture.

To perform the CDI and come up with the recommendations, Woodward conducted 215 in-depth interviews and surveyed more than 18,000 personnel and conducted focus groups with basic military trainees and training-instructor spouses. The investigation also included survey trips to many of the training locations throughout the military.

But, Rice pointed out, what went wrong is not a mystery to Air Force leadership.

"We understand the what, the how and the why of our deficiencies, and because we have this understanding, I am confident the solutions we are implementing will effectively address the root causes of the problems we have identified," said Rice.

"This report necessarily focuses on the few who violated (a) sacred trust and broke faith with fellow Airmen everywhere," Woodward said in her report. "It is important to remember that despite the extraordinary scrutiny of basic training. . .honorable men and women throughout the Air Force enlisted training complex continue to serve every day with distinction."

Comments

11/21/2012 4:20:20 PM ET
The buddy concept should be practiced in connection with the Wingman concept.Starting the buddy concept in basic training will help the trainees develop the first core value Integrity First. Having a wingmanbuddy will beable to not only help keep each other in line but also help each other when they feel like giving up or giving in.

SSgt Adam Bass, HILL AFB UT

11/21/2012 3:50:50 PM ET
This happens in all branches. Don't kid yourself.

A, San Antonio

11/21/2012 3:04:27 PM ET
What the report doesn't address is the culture that led to having our BMT squadrons undermanned. How many rounds of budget drills and manpower cuts led to a situation where a 16 hour duty day - everyday - was acceptable practice.Unfortunately it took a tragic structural failure to bring common sense solutions to systemic problems.Will this be a high-water manning mark that just keeps getting chipped away as we move forward

reid, montgomery

11/21/2012 2:15:06 PM ET
How does making training shorter solve anything If there's white space in what is already the shortest boot camp in the DOD why not DO MORE Amp up the pressure on both personnel and recruits. They shouldn't even have enough energy or spare mental capacity to get aroused or plot trouble. It all gets back to the fact that we have de-militarized the AF from day one of basic. If you want a professional military force you need a professional military environment... there was a girl on here months ago defending the TIs saying they called him Dad that tells me all I need to know about the professionalism in BMT these days.

KP, VA

11/21/2012 11:44:42 AM ET
In response to Eric - When I went through Army basic training you always had a buddy. Getting yelled at by a drill sergeant required a buddy to be standing right next to you. If you were caught without one you had to scream out I need a buddy Air Force basic had none of that.

SSgt Fears, Scott AFB

11/21/2012 10:37:37 AM ET
Have other branches of services had issues like this If not what are they doing right that the AF isn't

Eric, Hill

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