Men are latest alleged victims of sex crimes by Air Force trainers
Published: January 16, 2013
WASHINGTON – For the first time, men are included on the list of alleged victims in a sexual abuse and misconduct scandal involving Air Force trainees at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.
A male drill instructor stands accused of sexual misconduct with two male recruits attending basic military training, while a female instructor is accused of having a sexual relationship with a man attending technical training, officials at Air Education and Training Command said.
The newly announced cases bring the total number of victims to 59, and the number of instructors investigated to 32. The names of the three trainers who are newly under investigation haven’t been released.
Charges filed in the cases have ranged from rape to improper relationships, and six instructors have been convicted. The first instructor to be charged, former Staff Sgt. Luis Walker, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for rape and other crimes.
The scandal has helped ignite a broader discussion about sexual assault in the military, with House Armed Services Committee scheduled to hold a hearing on the matter next week in Washington.
