Since the investigation has gone public, multiple army instructors have been suspended over the alleged sexual assault of a trainee at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma.
What We Know:
- The complaint was filed on March 27th, and the victim identified seven of the 22 military members who assaulted her. Members from the 1-78 Field Artillery Battalion were reportedly involved in multiple attacks on the unnamed trainee. The investigation was launched after the female trainee claimed she was sexually assaulted by 22 service members, including drill sergeants. Fort Sill will continue to investigate any further claims of sexual assault that come up as the investigation moves forward.
- The case follows the events of Ft. Hood, where Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy recently announced the firing and suspension of numerous officers and enlisted soldiers. Defense Department data shows that reports of sexual assault inside of the agency rose 3% in 2019 and continues to rise. The Army’s Investigative Division is currently handling the investigation. Video evidence of one of the attacks on the trainee reportedly circulated around the base and was obtained by investigators.
- The army is reportedly sending additional CID personnel and attorneys to the 4base, according to statements from Ft. Sill Major Ken Kamper. Major Ken Kamper is the Head of Fires Center of Excellence at Ft. Sill. The Fires Center of Excellence conducts training and education for enlisted soldiers and officers working in the fields of air defense artillery and field artillery. Kamper revealed that the victim currently has access to victim services and is absolutely safe.
“We’re just heartbroken, just sad, sad that something like this happened,” Kamper said in a statement.
- As of late, it is not clear when exactly the assaults took place. In 2019, there were 7,825 reports of sexual assault involving service members as either victims or the subjects of criminal investigations. There were also 1,021 formal complaints of sexual harassment in military services in 2019, which is a 10 percent increase from the complaints filed in 2018.
The victim in the Ft. Sill incident remains unnamed in order to protect her identity.
