I was disappointed but I suppose, not totally surprised that
the Air Force has expanded its probe into sexual misconduct by drill
instructors (DIs) or training Instructors (TIs) at Lackland Air Force Base, in
San Antonio, Tx where I took my basic training in 1966.
I was one of many scared 18 year olds that came to the base
for some much expedited basic training; expedited because there was not time to
waste on training, get them into the ranks now!
Each group of trainees was assigned one or more instructors
who were tough as nails because they had to be. They were basically gods that
had to be obeyed completely; if he said jump, you jumped, no matter what.
I equate these instructors with other authority figures like
priests and coaches who have also been accused of abusing their authority and
sexually molesting scared young boys or in this case, scared young women.
I remember seeing females in training but they were usually
assigned to female instructors. I guess many things have changed there since
1966 but the principle remains the same; train them but don’t abuse or molest
them.
I am not naïve to think that no abuse took place when I was
at Lackland but I guess now, women are not afraid to come forward and 31 lodged
complaints of abuse from molestation to rape.
It is a sad commentary on our society where people in power
tend to use that power for doing bad things and in many cases, they are allowed
to abuse their power by institutions that they work for and that includes the
Air Force, Penn State, Congress, Corporations and of course, the Vatican.
I guess this Air Force abuse bothers me a little more
because I can relate to those scared 18 year olds that have never been far away
from home or their parents and are thrust into a world of despicable wolves.
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