Drill Sergeant Found Guilty of Soldier Abuse at Fort Knox

[NNN0LHI]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBYJBJDQ9E.html

FORT KNOX, Ky. (AP) - A drill sergeant was found guilty Wednesday of abusing a trainee and trying to impede an investigation by threatening other trainees with punishment if they cooperated.

Ricky L. Stauffer, whose rank was reduced from sergeant first class to staff sergeant, was the third drill sergeant at Fort Knox to be found guilty of soldier abuse. A fourth is scheduled for trial later this month.

[noamnety]

1. If he was threatening subordinates who talked to investigators

He shouldn't be a SSGT. He needs to be busted down to private. And I don't mean that as a punitive action - he's just clearly not fit to be anyone's supervisor.


Of course I could say the same for others in the administration, based on what happens to whistleblowers.

[MADem]

2. In perverse fashion, this is good news

I am pleased that they are at least not covering this up...shows that the battle buddies still have a conscience...but hey, it is still an all volunteer force, and they have got to be angry at some clown like this besmirching their service. We won't even go into the Commander in Chief issues!

Stauffer was found guilty of slamming one trainee against a wall, and not guilty of punching a former Army specialist in the stomach, according to a statement issued by the post about 25 miles south of Louisville.

A jury of four officers and four non-commissioned officers heard the case, the post said.

[atreides1]

3. There is a plus side

In all probability this man will be relieved from Drill status and assigned to a regular deployable unit.

Ft. Knox is the US Army Armor Training Center, so it's a good bet that SSG Stauffer has an Armor MOS, and the experience he has could be put to good use in Iraq.

And the last time I looked both the 3rd and 1st ID, as well as the 1st Cav and the 1st Armored divisions all have either M-1 tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles.

Anyone want to send SSG Stauffer a Bon Voyage gift, body armor would be a good choice.

[candy]

4. I thought abuse was a job requirement to become a drill sergeant--

At least it used to be,these new recruits are wimps.

The army is becoming very touchy-feely-----thank God it wasn't like that in 1941-1945