Making a Difference

The Air Force has fully implemented 23 of the 46 recommendations service officials drafted to prevent sexual misconduct at basic military training, Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh told members of the House Armed Services Committee on Jan. 23. He added that the Air Force expects to put in practice 22 of the remaining 23 recommendations by November. Air Education and Training Command boss Gen. Edward Rice has shifted the last one of the 46—to reduce the amount time trainees spend at BMT—to a separate curriculum review board for more study. “Although it is still very early, the evidence indicates that our efforts are making a difference,” said Rice during the same hearing. “We have not had a reported incident of sexual misconduct in Basic Military Training for the past seven months,” he noted. The establishment of the Recruiting Education and Training Oversight Council, tasked with reviewing and monitoring actions implemented following the sexual abuse scandal, is among “the most significant action taken” to date, said Rice. The Air Force has either charged, convicted, or is investigating 32 MTIs on a variety of sexual misconduct charges ranging from rape to inappropriate conduct, said these senior leaders. (See also Sexual Misconduct at BMT from Air Force Magazine’s November 2012 issue.) (Welsh’s prepared testimony)