On January 23, the House Armed Services Committee held a hearing, “A Review of Sexual Misconduct by Basic Training Instructors at Lackland Air Force Base.” Chair Howard “Buck” McKeon (R-CA) and Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA) heard testimony regarding the sexual abuse of Air Force recruits by basic training instructors at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, the military’s response to the incidents, and the reforms necessary to address the ongoing issue of sexual misconduct in the military.
Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, United States Air Force Chief of Staff, discussed systemic issues that contributed to the occurrence of sexual misconduct at Lackland, including “insufficient leadership oversight and poor accountability” and “barriers to reporting that exist for both military training instructors and trainees.” Such issues are being addressed by the Air Force through the development and implementation of “necessary and enduring institutional safeguards” to prevent future misconduct.
The following individuals also testified:
