FORT CARSON, Colo. — A decade after the Pentagon began confronting rape in the ranks, the U.S. military frequently fails to provide justice to the children of service members when they are sexually assaulted by other kids on base.
An Associated Press investigation finds that sex assault cases occurring where military kids live and learn often die on the desks of prosecutors. Criminal investigators shelved an unknown number of reports.
Instead of punishment or rehabilitation, young offenders may be shuffled into the civilian world.
The Pentagon doesn’t know the problem’s true extent, but officials promised “appropriate actions.”
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ALASKA
On Alaska’s bases, records the Army acknowledged were incomplete cited zero cases. But AP documented at least five sex assault reports among children or teens since 2007. Fort Wainwright had three, Fort Greely had two.
ARIZONA
In Arizona, records the military acknowledges are incomplete show at least nine sex assault reports among children since 2007. Fort Huachuca accounted for eight, including two rapes. The other was at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma.
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CALIFORNIA
In California, records the military acknowledges are incomplete documented at least 25 reports of sex assaults or rapes among children since 2007. Included were Camp Pendleton with 10 and Fort Irwin in the Mojave Desert with nine.
COLORADO
In Colorado, Army records documented just three cases at Fort Carson since 2007. But AP found another 16 cases that El Paso County authorities investigated. The Army acknowledged records it provided AP are incomplete.
GEORGIA
On three Army bases in Georgia, records the military acknowledge are incomplete show at least 24 sex assault cases among children or teens since 2007. Fort Benning had 18 cases, Fort Stewart five and Fort Gordon one.
HAWAII
In Hawaii, AP documented at least six cases on Marines or Navy bases since 2007. The Army disclosed no reports at Schofield Barracks, Oahu’s most populous base. The Pentagon doesn’t know the extent of the problem, and the Army acknowledged records it provided are incomplete.
KANSAS
On two bases in Kansas, records the Army acknowledges are incomplete document at least 13 sex assault cases among children or teens since 2007. Fort Riley accounted for 12, while Fort Leavenworth recorded one case.
KENTUCKY
On two bases in Kentucky, records the Army acknowledges are incomplete document at least 44 sex assault cases among children or teens since 2007. Fort Campbell accounted for 30; Fort Knox the other 14.
MARYLAND
At Fort Meade, records the Army acknowledges are incomplete document at least nine sex assault cases among children or teens since 2007. Five were rape investigations. There was one report at Naval Support Activity Annapolis.
NEW YORK
In New York, Army records show at least seven cases since 2007: three each at West Point and Fort Drum, and one at Fort Hamilton. The Pentagon doesn’t know the true extent of the problem, and the Army acknowledged its records are incomplete.
NORTH CAROLINA
In North Carolina, records the military acknowledge are incomplete document at least 39 sex assaults among children or teens on bases since 2007. Camp Lejeune had the most reports with 22. Fort Bragg was second at 12.
TENNESSEE
In Tennessee, records show at least three sex assault cases among children or teens since 2007 at Naval Support Activity Mid-South.
TEXAS
In Texas, AP found at least 56 sex assault or rape cases among juveniles on military bases since 2007. Fort Hood showed the most, with 41, followed by Fort Bliss with 10.
VIRGINIA
In Virginia, records the military acknowledges are incomplete document at least 21 sex assault reports among children since 2007. According to the records, Fort Belvoir accounted for 13, while Quantico had two.
WASHINGTON
In Washington state, records the military acknowledges are incomplete document at least 37 sex assault reports among children on bases since 2007. According to the records, Joint Base Lewis-McChord accounted for 32 cases.
