Pentagon acts to crack down on recruiter misconduct

The Boston Globe

Pentagon acts to crack down on recruiter misconduct
Video cameras among options
By Bryan Bender, Globe Staff | March 19, 2007

WASHINGTON -- The military is considering installing surveillance cameras in recruiting stations across the country, the most dramatic of several new steps to address a rise in misconduct allegations against military recruiters -- including sexual assaults of female prospects and bending the rules to meet quotas.

In a letter to Congress obtained by the Globe, a top Pentagon personnel official outlined the initiatives, which also include a ban on recruiters meeting with prospective recruits of the opposite sex unless a supervisor is present.

Recruiters may also be required to give potential recruits "applicant's rights cards," spelling out what a recruiter can and cannot do to get them to enlist, and the military may set up a hot line to report violations, according to the letter.

Together, they mark the Pentagon's most forceful attempt to address what government investigators say is an increase in the number of recruiters using questionable tactics -- and breaking the law in some cases -- while trying to fill the Pentagon's need for new soldiers and Marines.

In the March 7 letter to Congress, Michael L. Dominguez, principal deputy undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, wrote that at least one branch of the service is "assessing the feasibility of video surveillance" to prevent abuses. Dominguez provided few details but said the cameras are one option among many to prevent recruiter misconduct in the future.

"All services have examined their programs and have instituted several new facets," Dominguez reported.

The military has more than 20,000 recruiters, thousands of whom serve on the "front lines" of recruitment -- schools, malls, sporting events, and other gathering places for young people. They are required to sign up at least two recruits a month, a struggle in healthy economic times and when public approval for the war in Iraq is at an all-time low.

Since the military is seeking to increase its ranks by 92,000 troops over the next five years, the Army and Marine Corps will add more recruiters. But the pressure to put more men and women in uniform probably will not diminish.

While cases of recruiter misconduct are considered rare, a Government Accountability Office investigation -- using Defense Department data -- last year found that substantiated cases of recruiter wrongdoing rose from about 400 in 2004 to 630 in 2005.

The August 2006 report also found that cases of sexual harassment of potential recruits or falsifying medical records more than doubled from 30 instances to 70.

Examples of misconduct include making unrealistic promises to recruits, fraternizing with them during off hours, offering them cash or other incentives to enlist, and generally "coercive behavior," according to Beth J. Asch , a researcher at the government-funded Rand Corporation who specializes in military recruiting issues. Criminal behavior includes underage drinking and sexual harassment.

Recruiter misconduct "is an old problem," said Asch, dating at least to the 1970s when the military draft ended and the all-volunteer force began. "They face a mission every month to get recruits in the door. And that's hard. The pressure is increasing.

"And the harder it is, the greater the incentive to try to do some back-door dealing," she added.
Recruiters have also been cutting corners to find enough bodies to meet their quota, some analysts say, turning a blind eye to problems that would ordinarily disqualify prospects from joining the Army: scrapes with the law, single parenthood, medical problems, and drug abuse.

"The biggest problem is looking the other way on narcotics use" among prospective recruits, said Alan Gropman , a professor at the National Defense University in Washington. "It's a bigger problem in the Army than the Navy and Air Force and Marine Corps. It's a bigger problem in the Marine Corps than in the Navy and Air Force."

"There is lot of pressure put on the recruiters," Gropman added. "It is not a high-morale field."

Though statistics show the problem has increased, the GAO asserted that there is "limited visibility" on the problem because the Department of Defense lacked a standard method to report recruiter irregularities. As a result, according to the report, no one can accurately tell how widespread the problem is.

In his letter, Dominguez told Congress that since the GAO report came out in August the Pentagon has instituted tracking methods and that more precise data are now coming in from the military branches. But he said the department is still "validating it to ensure our reporting process is working as designed."

Both analysts and the Pentagon said sexual misconduct is among the most pressing issues of recruiter wrongdoing. An investigation by the Associated Press found that in 2005, at least 80 male recruiters were disciplined for abusing female potential recruits.

More than 100 young women who had expressed interest in joining the military reported that their recruiters had victimized them, the AP investigation found. The abuse included rape on couches in recruiting offices, assaults in government cars, and gropings en route to military entrance exams.

Many of the new steps outlined by Dominguez -- including installing video cameras -- are focused on preventing sexual abuse of potential enlistees.

For example, on Thursday the commander of the US Army Recruiting Command, Major General Thomas P. Bostick , issued an updated policy prohibiting recruiters from being alone with a potential applicant of the opposite sex.

Instituting the "buddy system," the March 14 directive requires that "during the recruiting process there will be at least one qualifying person present at all times whenever a recruiter meets with a prospect, applicant, or future soldier of the opposite gender."

The Army command is implementing this policy "primarily to maintain the integrity of the recruiting process and enhance the credibility of that process with potential recruits, parents/guardians, communities, and school officials," according to the directive.

The new policy allows for some exceptions. For example, at a recruiting station with only one recruiter, a third-party supervisor is not required, but the recruiter must inform a superior officer that he or she will be alone with a prospect of the opposite sex.

The buddy system is an adaptation of a similar policy the Indiana National Guard began last year after several reported violations.

Dominguez told lawmakers last week that a Pentagon review of the Indiana "No One Alone Policy" found it works. Since it began, the Guard "saw an increase in the number of recruiter irregularities reported" and "over time, the number of violations stabilized and ultimately decreased."


Bryan Bender can be reached at bender@globe.com.

© Copyright 2007 Globe Newspaper Company.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2007/03/19/pentagon_acts_to_crack_down_on_recruiter_misconduct/

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WZZM13 NEWS Coverage

Pentagon Considers Video Taping Military Recruiters






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Discuss your opinion on this
KSDK /
Created: 3/19/2007 10:35:27 PM
Updated: 3/20/2007 11:30:08 AM

The Pentagon is considering videotaping military recruiters. The investigation by KSDK has had ramifications in Washington, where a top general was grilled about it in his confirmation hearing.

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By Leisa Zigman
I-Team

KSDK - The pentagon is considering several steps to deal with a rise in misconduct allegations against military recruiters in St. Louis and across the nation.

In February, an I-Team hidden camera investigation revealed local military recruiters using half-truths, exaggerations, and sexual innuendos to lure potential recruits.

According documents obtained by the Boston Globe, the military is considering installing video surveillance cameras in recruiting stations, offering potential recruits applicant rights cards, spelling out what a recruiter can and cannot do to get them to enlist and setting up a hotline to report violations.

Last month, we sent undercover KSDK production assistants into recruiting stations throughout St. Louis.

One production assistant, who we'll call "Erica", is fearful she could be targeted because of her work on our report. We agreed to conceal her identity.

"Erica" explained, "From the moment I walked in there, it felt like instead of recruiting me, he was hitting on me."

“Erica”: So is it as bad as everybody says it is?

Recruiter: No!

“Erica”: Really?

Recruiter: Let me show you, because I don't want you to think I'm lying.

One recruiter implied he was naked in one of his Iraq photos. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri) and U.S Representative Todd Akin (R-Missouri) were appalled by his conduct.

Recruiter: This is my king of Iraq photo. I ain't got nothing on but my hat. I'm standing over there looking over there at the horizon.

Recruiter: Got a little Pam Anderson. You know, you need a little Pam in your life.

“Erica”: Oh my gosh.

Recruiter:Hey, everybody don't look like you, you need a little Pam.

Congressman Todd Akin said, "Not exactly a poster boy of recruiting."

Some recruiters told our production assistant north St. Louis County was more dangerous than Iraq.

"Erica" said," He was a person of authority, he had his uniform on, I could take what he was taking to complete heart, he showed me pictures having fun on the beach, I think it was Kuwait, if I was younger and more naive I'd think this wasn't so bad.”

When Senator McCaskill found out about our investigation, she grilled General George Casey about it at his confirmation hearings.

Senator McCaskill said, "It's really important you get a handle on what is being said in these recruitment appointments that there aren't any young men and women being misled...."

General George Casey replied, "The Army has quality control issues to make sure people don't overstep their bounds as you suggest in St. Louis."

Colonel Junio-Omaru Barber is the Army recruiting commander for Missouri and Southern Illinois.

After learning about the I-Team's findings, he ordered retraining of all 180 recruiters under his command.

As for “Erica”, she believes video surveillance is a good idea.

“Erica” said, "They are sexually harassing or making sexual innuendos, I think that would put a complete stop to that. I think they would treat the females more professionally, definitely."

Last week, the head of the nation's Army Recruiting Command issued a new directive that prohibits recruiters from being alone with a potential applicant of the opposite sex. All military branches may soon follow suit.