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Lackland Courts-Martial
9:42 am
Thu January 31, 2013

Lackland Instructor Acquitted On Reasonable Doubt

Lackland Air Force Base
Credit Eileen Pace / Texas Public Radio
The sex scandal has rocked Lackland, and now lists 32 suspects and 59 alleged victims.

Staff Sgt. Donald Davis was charged with abusive sexual contact by touching a trainee and placing her in fear of her military career through the abuse of his authority. However, the defense argued the jury could not convict if there was reasonable doubt that the events occurred.

The military jury vote in the seventh court-martial indicated that the government had not met its burden of proof in the case.

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Lackland Investigation
7:24 am
Wed January 30, 2013

Court-Martial Testimony: Culture Of Power Kept Trainee Silent

Headquarters to the 37th Training Wing
Credit Ryan Loyd / Texas Public Radio
The headquarters to the 37th Training Wing at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland where the base's legal offices and courtroom are housed.

A witness in the latest court-martial of a Lackland Air Force Base training instructor told a jury Tuesday that she was afraid to tell the instructor to stop touching her because he was her superior.

The command-directed investigation last fall found that command failures and gaps in institutional safeguards allowed a culture of abuse and secrecy to grow at Lackland.

Staff Sgt. Donald Davis is the seventh MTI to go to trial in the growing sex scandal at the nation’s Air Force boot camp training facility.

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Women In Combat
4:27 pm
Tue January 29, 2013

DOD Decision 'One More Opportunity' For Women In Uniform

Lackland Gateway walkway
Credit Eileen Pace / Texas Public Radio
Air Force recruiters are not sure how the DOD decision will affect military recruiting efforts.

The Air Force is now working on implementing the policy change by the Department of Defense allowing women into combat roles. Coincidentally, 2013 marks the 20th anniversary of women being able to become combat pilots for the Air Force.

Christa D'Andrea is the chief of public affairs for the Air Force Recruiting Service at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph and served on active-duty for 11 years. She said the integration of women in these roles is the next logical step in the military.

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7:07 am
Mon January 28, 2013

Van de Putte Leads Charge On Veteran Issues In 83rd Legislative Session

Lead in text: 
While most of the focus on the legislature thus far has been on issues like education funding, gun control and women's rights, Texas is also faced with the growing needs of veterans who return home; the two most vital being employment and medical care.
State legislators intend to lay out their bills for the 83rd legislative session over the coming months. Veteran's organizations will be waiting to see if they are part of lawmaker's plans. Most notably they'll look for legislation that works on reducing the disability claims backlogs that are continuing to rise in Texas.
Lackland Investigation
12:03 pm
Thu January 24, 2013

Congressional Panel Hears Differing Opinions In Air Force Sex Scandal

Credit C-SPAN
Gen. Edward Rice testifies in front of the House Armed Services Committee

Air Force Top brass told a Congressional committee Wednesday that they had failed in their responsibility to maintain order and discipline among Lackland basic training instructors.

Veterans who were sexual assault victims told the committee that the culture of power abuse is the same today as it was decades ago when they served in the Air Force.

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