Sex misconduct mars military recruitment

More than 100 young women who expressed interest in joining the military in the past year were preyed upon sexually by their recruiters. Women were raped on recruiting office couches, assaulted in government cars and groped en route to entrance exams.

A six-month Associated Press investigation found that more than 80 military recruiters were disciplined last year for sexual misconduct with potential enlistees. The cases occurred across all branches of the military and in all regions of the country.

"This should never be allowed to happen," said one 18-year-old victim. "The recruiter had all the power. He had the uniform. He had my future. I trusted him."

Some states have taken extra steps to curb recruiter misconduct.

The Indiana National Guard has its unique "No One Alone" policy that restricts recruiters from being alone with potential recruits.

While the Utah National Guard has no such policy, its recruiters are reminded how to behave.

"Utah National Guard recruiters receive constant, consistent guidance at local and national levels to adhere to the values of the Air Force and Army," said Utah Guard spokesman Maj. Hank McIntire. Spelled out, those values include respect, selflessness and integrity. "Recruiters are also taught to use good common sense and avoid putting themselves and/or potential recruits in compromising situations."

Nationally, however, problems persist.

At least 35 Army recruiters, 18 Marine Corps recruiters, 18 Navy recruiters and 12 Air Force recruiters were disciplined for sexual misconduct or other inappropriate behavior with potential enlistees in 2005, according to records obtained by the AP under dozens of Freedom of Information Act requests. That's significantly more than the handful of cases disclosed in the past decade.

The AP also found:

• The Army, which accounts for almost half of the military, has had 722 recruiters accused of rape and sexual misconduct since 1996.

• Across all services, one out of 200 frontline recruiters — the ones who deal directly with young people — was disciplined for sexual misconduct last year.

• Some cases of improper behavior involved romantic relationships, and sometimes those relationships were initiated by the women.