A Marine drill instructor will be formally reprimanded and reduced in rank for not reporting abuse of his recruits at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego. KPBS reporter Erik Anderson has details.
The military jury that convicted Sergeant Brian Wendel of dereliction of duty late last week, handed down his punishment yesterday. In addition to not reporting the abuse, Wendel was found guilty of violating direct orders against drinking in the drill instructor's office.
His court martial was directly linked to a recruit abuse case that ended up in jail time for a fellow drill instructor.
Jerrod Glass was found guilty of repeatedly striking recruits he was supposed to be training. Glass will spend six months in the brig.
Prosecutors say Glass was the main abuser, but Wendel helped cover up the behavior.
Another drill instructor -- Sergeant Robert Hankins -- is scheduled to face charges early next year.
Erik Anderson, KPBS News.
