SSgt. Kwinton Estacio, a former military training instructor at JBSA-Lackland, Tex., received a one-year prison sentence for having an unprofessional relationship with a trainee and additional conduct violations, reported the Los Angeles Times on Sept. 13. The military jury imposed the sentence on Sept. 12, after having acquitted him of unwanted sexual contact, a charge for which he faced 13 years in prison. Estacio also received a bad conduct discharge and had his rank reduced to airman basic, according to the newspaper. Estacio was the fourth former MTI at Lackland, home of the Air Force’s basic military training, to stand trial in the past several months for alleged illicit sexual encounters with trainees. So far, the Air Force has investigated 17 instructors at Lackland, charged six, and convicted three, according to the newspaper. Earlier this year, Air Education and Training Command boss Gen. Edward Rice assigned Maj. Gen. Margaret Woodward, the Air Staff’s acting director of operational planning, to lead the command-directed investigation into this matter. An AETC spokesman told the Daily Report that Woodward has completed her investigation and her report remains under review by command leadership.
Top Lawmakers Want 15 Percent Pay Raise for Enlisted Troops
April 19, 2024
A new law introduced by Congress would raise the pay rate 15 percent for junior enlisted troops and seek improvements on a range of quality of life issues, such as pay and compensation, child care, housing, health care access, and military spouse employment.