FORT SILL – The Army trainee at Fort Sill who reported a sexual attack on March 27 claimed she was assaulted by more than 20 service members, multiple news agencies reported Friday, and she may not be the only victim.
Army Times reported it was told by a person familiar with the incident that more than 20 individuals were under investigation as a result of the initial report, “and there are potentially more victims based on the allegations.”
The Intercept news organization reported Friday it was told by a military official with direct knowledge that investigators are checking into allegations of multiple assaults against the soldier by different groups of 22 service members. “Video of one incident … involving several drill sergeants was circulating at the base and was obtained by Army investigators, the official said.”
The alleged incidents at times involved groups of assailants, the military official said, and the woman’s report identified seven of the 22 members she said assaulted her, The Intercept reported.
The soldier had graduated after completing 10 weeks of basic training and had entered advanced individual training, Maj. Gen. Ken Kamper, Commanding General of the Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill, indicated during a news conference Thursday.
It’s in AIT where “we have instructors who we refer to as cadre and there are also drill sergeants in that environment, as well,” Kamper said. The trainee “raised allegations she was sexually assaulted by cadre members,” the general said Thursday.
Kamper refused to offer details about where the alleged incident occurred but did say the attack “originated in a training environment” on Fort Sill.
Kamper also declined to specify the number of suspects. “The way we are characterizing it is cadre member. I will leave it at that,” he said. “That means more than one.”
“At this early juncture, and to protect the integrity of the investigation, we cannot specify the number of suspects,” Monica K. Guthrie, Communications Director, Long-Range Precision Fires, Fort Sill, said in a statement released Friday. “We are committed to thoroughly investigating every allegation, which will require time to sort through all the allegations and evidence.”
The Intercept reported Friday that the Defense Department is removing multiple unit drill sergeants as a result of the investigation, and Stars and Stripes reported that “multiple” personnel at Fort Sill were suspended this week as a result of the report.
“We’ve removed them from their normal duties. They’ve been suspended,” Kamper said Thursday. “They’re working under the control outside of a trainee environment and really to protect the safety and well-being of all the other soldiers.”
To protect the victim’s privacy, Kamper did not disclose her name, age, rank, hometown, nor what military unit to which she is assigned.
However, the unit implicated in the alleged assault has been identified as the 1-78 Field Artillery Battalion.
Kamper did say of the soldier, “We are proud of her, the courage she displayed to come forth with these allegations.”
Although the victim reportedly said she was sexually assaulted multiple times by nearly two dozen individuals, Kamper said Thursday, in response to a question from the Ledger, that the victim is not and was not hospitalized after the assault. He added that the Army is “making sure she is safe and has all of the services she needs and deserves,” and has been assigned a Special Victims’ Counsel.
The Army’s Criminal Investigation Command (CID) is conducting an investigation into the reported sexual assault on the post last Saturday.
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, Kamper indicated Thursday. “Army CID is the lead agency for this investigation,” wrote Jessica Tackaberry, media relations spokesperson in the Fort Sill Public Affairs Office. “We have not requested assistance from any agencies outside of the U.S. Army, to include the FBI, as this investigation is solely within the military’s jurisdiction.”
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.”
Kamper vowed that a “full and thorough investigation” will be conducted. “We are committed to seeing this through.”
Sexual assault has been “a rising focal point in the Army since allegations arose that Spc. Vanessa Guillen, a soldier killed inside an armory at Fort Hood, Texas, was sexually harassed before her death but did not report it for fear of retribution from her chain of command,” Army Times reported.
A study released by the Defense Department in May 2020 “showed that the military still has a long way to go when it comes to stamping out sexual misconduct, as well as the toxic and harassing command cultures that set the stage for sexual violence,” Army Times added.
According to The Intercept, reports of sexual assault in the military have gone up dramatically in recent years, rising 38% from 2016 to 2018 and by 10% between 2018 and 2019. More than 20,000 service members reported being sexually assaulted in 2018, according to the Defense Department.