Military

A Lackland judge is hearing the case against a former Air Force instructor accused of rape.

Staff Sgt. Eddy Soto, formerly with the 323rd Training Squadron, pleaded guilty to five of the charges against him, including sexual assault, wrongful sexual contact, lying to officials, and having unprofessional relationships with trainees.

Soto’s court-martial opened in January with a request from the government to postpone the proceedings so it could bring in a cross-cultural expert. 

Joint Base San Antonio has canceled plans for a November air show at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph.  The Air Force Thunderbirds were scheduled to headline the event that included other military aircraft.

According to JBSA, Air Force aviation support to public events has been canceled to save flying hours to support readiness needs. 

A former military training instructor at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland has been sentenced following his court-martial that began Monday morning.

Staff Sgt. Ryan Derass pleaded guilty to charges of pursuing sexual relationships with five female trainees in another training class and to charges of dereliction of duty for forcing the recruits in his training class to fill their canteens with water from the toilet.

The case marks the first time an instructor was charged in connection with both male and female trainees.

U.S. Army North at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston will be looking for a new commander now that Lt. General William Caldwell IV is leaving to become president of the Georgia Military College.

Caldwell has submitted his retirement paperwork to the Department of Defense and has announced to friends that he will leave Texas to become the next president of the military college in Milledgeville, Georgia.