The corrosive influence of authority can claim victims ranging from storied generals to relatively obscure military training instructors, as shown in recent months when allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced against 25 MTIs at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.
Two days after the Nov. 14 release of an independent investigation into basic military training, Gen. Edward Rice Jr., head of Air Education and Training Command, told Air Force Times he has “zero percent confidence that we’ve got the 100 percent solution” as long as people can be intoxicated by power.
“The corruptive elements of power tend to increase over time,” Rice said in an exclusive interview. “The longer you’ve had it, the more you’re susceptible to it; the more you start to believe the rules don’t apply to you.”
You can read the entire interview in this week’s Air Force Times. Rice also talks about what AETC might do to combat sexual misconduct at basic military training – including whether to make MTI duty mandatory.
Also in this week’s edition: retired Gen. David Petraeus’ affair with his biographer has once again raised the question of whether military leaders should be sacked for adultery.
As far as the military is concerned, the answer is yes. Adultery is a crime under the Uniform Code of Military Justice because it can affect morale. Read what you need to know about the legal ramifications of committing adultery in the military.
And an explosive ordnance disposal technician was awarded the Silver Star on Nov. 14 for gallantry in Afghanistan. Tech. Sgt. Joseph Deslauriers cleared roadside bombs, treated a wounded service member and cleared a path for the medevac helicopter, being severely wounded in the process.
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