The Air Force has a growing sex abuse scandal on its hands. At least 31 female recruits at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas have been identified as alleged victims, according to the Stars and Stripes:
Twelve male instructors have been accused of offenses ranging from seeking improper relationships to rape. Nine of the 12 were from a single unit at the base, the 331st Training Squadron.
Lackland Air Force Base serves as boot camp for roughly 35,000 incoming airmen. About 22 percent of those airmen are female.
According to Fox News, the alleged sexual assaults took place between 2009 and 2011:
The first allegations were levied against Staff Sgt. Luis Walker, who faces the most serious charges and is scheduled to be court-martialed next month. Walker is charged with 28 counts, including rape, aggravated sexual contact and multiple counts of aggravated sexual assault. He has not yet entered a plea.
Gen. Edward A. Rice Jr., the Air Force's commander of training and education, told ABC News he is taking these charges seriously:
"We are leaving no stone unturned... I am being as aggressive as I can."
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