This NCO was stupid for abusing his authority, I hope this message is strong enough to make others think twice. When this kind of NEWS hits the streets, it will discourage any young person from enlisting into the military.

May 18, 2005

Drill sergeant convicted, discharged

By Joseph R. Chenelly
Times staff writer


The second drill sergeant court-martialed for abusing recruits in basic training at Fort Knox, Ky., has been convicted and kicked out of the Army.
Staff Sgt. Michael G. Rhoades was found guilty Tuesday on five counts of maltreatment and cruelty for punching his trainees in the chest, stomach and chin, and throwing at least one to the floor, according to a Fort Knox press release. He also was convicted of attempting to impede the investigation by threatening trainees with bodily harm before they were to be questioned by investigators.

Rhoades was sentenced to 30 days in jail and given a bad conduct discharge. He was granted time served and will not be confined.

Rhoades’ court-martial was the second in the case that involved four drill sergeants and the commander of E Company, 1st Battalion, 81st Armor Regiment.

In a partial plea agreement, former Sgt. 1st Class David H Price was convicted April 11 of four counts of abuse of trainees in his care and one count of trying to cover it up. He avoided jail time and was allowed to stay in the Army after being demoted to staff sergeant.

The same military judge, Lt. Col. Richard Anderson, presided over both cases.

Last week, Sgt. 1st Class Ricky L. Stauffer’s court-martial was rescheduled to begin June 7, according to Connie Shaffery, a Fort Knox spokeswoman. Stauffer allegedly slammed a trainee into a wall locker and choked and punched others.

Staff Sgt. Bryan G. Duncan is set to be court-martialed on June 15, Shaffery said. He is charged with maltreatment of troops under his charge. Specifically, he is accused of dragging a trainee down a hallway by his ankles and pushing others into wall lockers and a table.

Maj. Gen. Terry L. Tucker, commander of Fort Knox, recently ruled that Capt. William Fulton will also stand trial in the case, Shaffery said. A date has not yet been set.

Fulton was E Company’s commander in February, allegedly when the abuses occurred. Trainees testified during Fulton’s Article 32 hearing in April that he stood by as the sergeants committed the physical abuse. The charges he faces include dereliction of duty.

After Price’s court-martial concluded, some trainees and drill sergeants who testified in the court-martial claimed they were harassed, and in some cases felt threatened, by drill sergeants for taking the stand.

Shaffery said that drill sergeants who made inappropriate comments were “corrected” and dealt with “administratively.” She said that may mean anything from an Article 15 to a verbal warning.

Reprimands below the level of court-martial are typically not released due to privacy regulations, Shaffery said.

i really sucks when these drill sergeants have a power trip and hav to start beating up on reqruites who are not allowed to defend themselves, and then ruin their intire military career over it. I may be not old enough to say but thats what i think.