The Air Force has submitted a comprehensive list of Sexual Assault Convictions from fiscal year 2010 through August 2013. This is a first for any of the military services, according to the Air Force Times.
The report opens with a linked list of military bases where "significant sexual assault convictions" occurred. Alternatively, you can just scroll through all 50 Air Force Installations.
In the year 2012, there was a 57% conviction rate. For some reason, they don't list the conviction rates for 2010 or 2011. More below the orange peephole.
It's disconcerting to read this report.
Looking over the listed convictions there are a few points to make.
The vast majority of those convicted were young - they would have only been in the Air Force a couple of years with ranks from Airman Basic to Senior Airman. And within this group, the majority were discharged from the Air Force. Discharges fell into these two categories:
Bad Conduct (BCD)
A Bad Conduct Discharge (BCD) can only be given by a court-martial (either Special or General) as punishment to an enlisted service-member. Bad conduct discharges are often preceded by a period of confinement in a military prison. The discharge itself is not executed until completion of both confinement and the appellate review process.
Virtually all veterans' benefits are forfeited by a Bad Conduct Discharge; BCD recipients are not eligible for VA disability compensation in accordance with 38 CFR 3.12.
Dishonorable
A dishonorable discharge (DD) can only be handed down to an enlisted member by a general court-martial. Dishonorable discharges are handed down for what the military considers the most reprehensible conduct. This type of discharge may be rendered only by conviction at a general court-martial for serious offenses (e.g., desertion, sexual assault, murder, etc.) that call for dishonorable discharge as part of the sentence.
With this characterization of service, all veterans' benefits are lost, regardless of any past honorable service, and this type of discharge is regarded as shameful in the military. In many states a dishonorable discharge is deemed the equivalent of a felony conviction, with attendant loss of civil rights.[11] Additionally, US federal law prohibits ownership of firearms by those who have been dishonorably discharged[12] per the Gun Control Act of 1968.
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
Something strange begins to happen with Non-commissioned officers (NCO's), especially those of the rank of TSgt or MSgt. They seem as likely to receive fines, reduction in rank, and confinement but are not dismissed from the military. Members of this rank will have served many years and may be eligible for retirement benefits. Sometimes families are involved and it makes me wonder if judges are hesitant to issue bad conduct or dishonorable discharges in these cases.
All officers and cadets convicted of sexual assault were at minimum, dismissed from the military. This is the equivalent of a dishonorable discharge.
The problems with some of these convictions are very apparent. If you have any concern of reading about sexual assault, do not read further.
Note that in all of these cases the convicted NCO remained in the Air Force. I question which commander wants these men to work in their units and which NCO wants them working by their side. Ironically, you can find similar cases in the numbers above where the men were either issued a bad conduct or dishonorable discharge.
Synopsis: A female Airman went to A1C Ransom’s dorm room to drink alcohol and watch television. They were friends with no romantic history. Intoxicated, the victim fell asleep on A1C Ransom’s bed and woke up to A1C Ransom sexually assaulting her.
Trial Results: On 15 Mar 13, at a general court-martial, A1C Ransom was convicted of aggravated sexual contact.
Adjudged Sentence: A1C Ransom was sentenced to 6 months confinement, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, reduction in grade to E-1, and a reprimand.
Trial Results: On 14 Oct 10, at Minot AFB, ND, SSgt Matteson was convicted by special court-martial of aggravated sexual assault and assault consummated by a battery.
Adjudged Sentence: SSgt Matteson was sentenced to confinement for 20 days, reduction in rank to E-3, and a reprimand.
Synopsis: In October 2011, SSgt Tovar sexually assaulted the female spouse of a military member who was substantially intoxicated and asleep.
Trial Results: On 4 May 12, at Little Rock AFB, AK, SSgt Tovar was convicted by general court-martial of wrongful sexual contact.
Adjudged Sentence: SSgt Tovar was sentenced to confinement 90 days, reduction in rank to E-2 and a reprimand
Synopsis: TSgt Bass was an instructor at basic military training from 2006-2010. In 2009, he committed several acts of maltreatment against his 55-member male training flight. Among the instances of maltreatment, TSgt Bass struck members in the genitals, ordered them to perform PT while naked in close proximity to each other, and ordered members to put icy-hot on their genitals as punishment.
Trial Results: On 24 Apr 13, at a general court-martial, TSgt Bass was convicted of 2 counts of abusive sexual contact, 4 counts of simple assault, 12 counts of cruelty or maltreatment, 4 counts of failure to obey a general order, and 7 counts of dereliction of duty.
Adjudged Sentence: TSgt Bass was sentenced to 6 months confinement, forfeiture of $1,000 per month for 3 months, and reduction in grade to E-5.
Synopsis: While a student in basic training, AB Mejia bullied a fellow trainee for being gay by making unwanted sexual contact with him.
Trial Results: On 10 Sep 12, at a general court-martial, AB Mejia was convicted of wrongful sexual contact and 2 counts of assault consummated by a battery.
Adjudged Sentence: AB Mejia was sentenced to 20 days confinement, forfeiture of $994, and a reprimand.
Trial Results: On 17 Nov 12, at a special court-martial, SrA Gilmer was convicted of wrongful sexual contact, obstructing justice, indecent language and dereliction of duty.
Adjudged Sentence: SrA Gilmer was sentenced to 60 days hard labor without confinement, reduction in grade to E-2, forfeiture of $200 per month for 6 months, and a reprimand.
Trial Results: On 9 Mar 13, at a general court-martial, MSgt Ratuszny was charged with aggravated sexual assault and 2 counts of abusive sexual contact. He was convicted of attempted aggravated sexual assault.
Adjudged Sentence: MSgt Ratuszny was sentenced to 2 months confinement and reduction in grade to E-6.
Trial Results: On 30 Nov 12, at a general court-martial, SrA Ilarraza was convicted of rape.
Adjudged Sentence: SrA Ilarraza was sentenced to confinement for 7 months and reduction in grade to E-1.
Trial Results: On 24 Oct 12, at a general court-martial, MSgt Mansfield was charged with 2 counts of wrongful sexual contact, 5 counts of cruelty or maltreatment, assault consummated by a battery, and simple assault. He was convicted of 5 counts of cruelty or maltreatment and 2 counts of assault consummated by a battery.
Adjudged Sentence: MSgt Mansfield was sentenced to confinement for 3 months and reduction in grade to E-4.
I'll leave it to the rest of you to discuss in the comments if this is a helpful move on the part of the Air Force. What do you think they hope to accomplish by publishing this data?