In a sign that the Air Force is taking the latest abuses at Lackland AFB very seriously, Colonel Glenn Palmer, commander of the 737th Training Group, has been relieved of command. His name and picture still appear on the group page, but news has spread via AP article to The Stars and Stripes, to CBS, to NPR, and beyond.
The news is still not 'official' as sources are speaking on condition of anonymity. No replacement has been mentioned.
This action follows the removal of Colonel Mike Paquette from command of the 331st Training Squadron back in July. This squadron was home to nine of the trainers being investigated.
Their boss, Colonel Eric Axelbank, will be leaving command next month but his leaving is unrelated to the sexual assault scandal.
Could this have anything to do with the brand new Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General Mark Welsh? Today was his first day in office. The coincidence is too great to ignore. Looks like General Welsh intends to clean house.
This move takes me completely by surprise because Col. Palmer seemed to be on top of this investigation. He was repeatedly seen speaking to the press about positive steps being taken to prevent further problems and to dig out every case that happened in the past. On the face of things, he was aggressively pursuing all allegations of assault and harassment. This is one of those moments when I wish I could be a fly on the wall and see what has actually taken place.
Although being removed from command does not imply criminal behavior, it does tell us that the higher ups have lost faith in this man's ability to command. In Air Force speak, he might as well turn in his retirement papers.
This move comes with danger. One of the problems with investigating sexual assault and sexual harassment in the military is that those who pursue investigations can be caught up in them. If you are a commander that knows of potential problems, your job is to report but if you also fear that your job might be lost, even if you aggressively fight to change the status-quo, you may think twice before proceeding. I hope that the powers-that-be also release information as to why Col. Palmer has been relieved. Otherwise, other commanders watching this unfold may wonder if it is ever in their best interest to pursue charges of rape.
I also wonder what has happened to the commander prior to Col. Palmer? Many of these incidents occurred while the group was under that person's command.
For those keeping count - the latest stats at Lackland AFB are
38 victims
15 instructors investigated, 1 of those has been court-martialed, 4 more are set for trial
If you haven't checked out the latest cities for the award winning film, The Invisible War, now might be a good time to do so. The film tells the story, past and present, of sexual assault and rape among our military and does so in a manner that is compelling while honoring the victims of the crime and suggesting direction to change the status-quo. Everyone who honors our military should see the film. It is currently playing in Tulsa, OK and Toronto, Ontario. I hear it will be arriving in Austin, Texas on the 24th!