FORT SILL (1 April 2021) – The Army’s Criminal Investigation Command (CID) is conducting an investigation into the reported rape of a trainee on the post here last Saturday, Maj. Gen. Ken Kamper, Commanding General of the Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill, revealed this afternoon.
The female soldier said she was attacked by more than one person, Kamper said, but he declined to specify the number of assailants. He did say she reported being assaulted by “cadre members”.
The cadre “have been removed from training duties and suspended, and are working under control outside of a training environment,” the general said.
He indicated that the suspects may be drill instructors. The soldier had graduated after completing 10 weeks of basic training and had “moved on” to advanced individual training, he said.
The trainee “raised allegations of sexual assault by cadre members” and the attack “originated in a training environment” on Fort Sill, Kamper said.
To protect the victim’s privacy he did not disclose her name, age, rank, hometown, nor what military unit to which she is assigned. But he did say, “We are proud of her, the courage she displayed to come forth with these allegations.”
Kamper said the victim is not and was not hospitalized after the assault, but added that the Army is “making sure she is safe and has all of the services she needs and deserves.” The trainee also has been assigned a Special Victims’ Counsel, the general said.
Within a short time after the alleged attack occurred the victim reported the assault, and the Army’s CID “engaged and spoke with the soldier the very same day,” Kamper said. Fort Sill leadership “received the report on Saturday and took immediate action.”
Subsequent interviews started Monday “and have been conducted every day since,” the general said.
The Army will devote “all the resources that it takes to fully investigate these allegations,” Kamper said. Headquarters, Department of the Army, is sending additional specialized CID personnel and providing more attorneys to Fort Sill to assist in the investigation, he said. “And if we need more, we’ll get it.” The FBI has not been asked to assist in the probe, he indicated.
Sexual assault in the military is not unknown. Kamper declined to say whether any other sexual attacks have been reported at Fort Sill, but added, “One is too many… We have to change the culture.”
Sexual assault “will not be tolerated,” he said. “It tears at the fabric of our community.”
The Army and Fort Sill leaders “take these allegations very seriously,” the general said. “Not very often do we see characterization of assault by cadre members,” Kamper said.
He vowed that a “full and thorough investigation” will be conducted. “We are committed to seeing this through.”