U.S. Soldiers Told to Ignore Sexual Abuse of Boys by Afghan Allies.... PART 2

Army rejects appeal from soldier discharged after confronting accused Afghan rapist.

Even as the U.S. military denies reports that American troops were told to ignore Afghan child abusers, an 11-year Green Beret who was ordered discharged after he confronted an alleged rapist was informed Tuesday that the Army has denied his appeal.

Sgt. 1st Class Charles Martland earlier this year was ordered discharged by Nov. 1. He has been fighting to stay in, but in an initial decision, the U.S. Army Human Resources Command told Martland that his appeal “does not meet the criteria” for an appeal.

“Consequently, your request for an appeal and continued service is disapproved,” the office wrote in a memo to Martland.

The memo was shared with FoxNews.com by the office of Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., who has advocated for Martland’s case. According to Hunter's office, Martland learned of the decision Tuesday.

The memo, dated Sept. 14, comes as the Defense Department comes under criticism amid reports that U.S. soldiers were instructed to look the other way when Afghan troops and officers were sexually abusing boys.

Gen. John F. Campbell, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, said in a statement Tuesday that he is “absolutely confident that no such theater policy has ever existed here, and certainly, no such policy has existed throughout my tenure as commander.”

He said he expects “any suspicions of sexual abuse will be immediately reported to the chain of command,” and he has personally spoken with President Ashraf Ghani on the issue.

“I want to make absolutely clear that any sexual abuse or similar mistreatment of others, no matter the alleged perpetrator or victim, is completely unacceptable, and reprehensible,” he said.

But Martland’s case has raised questions about the military’s handling of such allegations.

As first reported by Fox News, while deployed to Kunduz Province, Afghanistan, Martland and his team leader confronted a local police commander in 2011 accused of raping an Afghan boy and beating his mother. When the man laughed off the incident, they shoved him to the ground.

Martland and his team leader were later removed from the base, and eventually sent home from Afghanistan. The U.S. Army has not confirmed the specifics of Martland's separation from service citing privacy reasons, but a “memorandum of reprimand” from October 2011 obtained by Fox News makes clear that Martland was criticized by the brass for his intervention after the alleged rape. Asked for comment Tuesday on the latest decision memo, an Army spokesman reiterated, "the U.S. Army is unable to confirm the specifics of his separation due to the Privacy Act."

Hunter has asked for Secretary of Defense Ash Carter to get involved, and continues to do so after the Army’s initial decision denying Martland’s appeal. The latest memo strictly reflects the Army’s decision, and not necessarily any review from Carter’s office.

The memo to Martland said his appeal was rejected because appeals can only be considered for “cases with material error, newly discovered evidence” or removal of certain documents. The memo says that while the office’s “decision is final,” Martland can still appeal to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records.

Hunter spokesman Joe Kasper said Martland essentially was denied on a “technicality” because no new information was provided.

“The process has failed abysmally,” he told FoxNews.com on Tuesday, urging top officials to intervene.

“At this point, somebody’s better judgment … has to prevail,” he said.

As for the mounting controversy over the handling of child abuse cases, Kasper said this “sends a loud and clear message to all soldiers and military personnel that if you do intervene … because it’s morally the right thing to do, it could be at the risk of your career.”

Hunter on Tuesday sent a letter urging Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., to put the nomination of President Obama’s new Army secretary pick on hold until Martland’s situation, and one other case, are resolved.

Before learning about the latest Martland memo, Hunter wrote another letter to Carter on Monday seeking information on DOD guidance regarding the reporting of child abuse. He said he was “gravely concerned” over reports that soldiers were advised to “look the other way.”

“This is not only unconscionable – frankly, it’s un-American,” he wrote.

This is a conspiracy ... can you see the lie made by General Campbell in the above article? First he denies there ever was any order issued but then he talks with President Ashraf Ghani about this issue? Meaning the General knew about the rape issue otherwise why would he talk to Ghani?

Of course anyone in the military can not support the soldiers who have been kicked out of the service otherwise they too will receive the same treatment.

Being a veteran myself, this is what I hate about the U.S. military, one minute they ignore their own policies and then when times change they reinstate those same policies that they had earlier ignored. Need an couple of examples? OK..... Since the 1980's the U.S. Army had an overweight program, too fat and out you go..... OK .... makes sense but then came the first Iraq war (Desert Storm) and guess what? No more fat boy program.... fat people being sent to Saudi Arabia to prepare for war. Take a look at the General Schwarzkopf who led the war...... he was so fat he had problems walking..... then after the war was over they reinstated the fat boy program and began kicking out the fat people again....or what about the policy of not having anyone who has committed a felony crime can join the military? Right now I know of a E-7 in the military who was found guilty of grand larceny and he is MILITARY POLICE.

Currently the military is kicking service members out for any reason. I had a buddy who received two speeding tickets on base. Both times he sped over the speed limit by no more than 5 mph and he was "Chaptered out" and could not reenlist.....he had sixteen years in and had to ETS. Sixteen years down the drain..... had he reached 20 years....... he would have been eligible to retire. No unemployment benefits for a while either because he was kicked out of the service.

Now before the vets attempt to correct this information....... the military (during war) would accept individuals with misdemeanor type crimes but not felonies.

So depending on what the current occasion is with the U.S. Army depends on its policy. So to all you who are considering a career with the military need to reconsider.

After working with the U.S. military for over 35 years as a soldier and civilian I must say the U.S. military is one of the most prejudice and discriminatory employers in the United States.

You want some advice about joining the U.S. military to serve your country?

Don't do it.

a reply to: DeathSlayer

Good advice. Don't join.

There are many ways to serve your people. Taking orders from liars isn't one of them.

I stayed away from your first thread because I could not think of anything t&c friendly to say, but might suffice.

I don't know what is worse, the actual sexual abuse, the blind eye policy or stringing up men with a good moral conscience for doing the right thing and intervening in an unacceptable situation.

These men are heroes and I salute them.

a reply to: DeathSlayer

Sgt. 1st Class Charles Martland is a hero who pwned a child rapist and because of the coverage this is getting on social media, unbeknown to him, he has sent a message to that part of the world that harming a child has consequences and that brave US military personnel will not blindly accept orders that result in sadistic and depraved acts on innocent children.

His superiors clearly need to experience first hand what they have so distastefully punished him for.

And on that basis, the military needs to have a bloody good look at itself because if you want to involve yourself in the affairs of other nations, and are exporting your brave young men and women to lead that charge, then they will bring their morals along with them.

all the people that looked the other way are as guilty as the ones doing the abuse, soldiers and civilians, doesn't matter.

a reply to: DeathSlayer

This just cannot be true.

What good does this bring to folks view of US and DoD, if these autrocities are tolerated. You must be kidding me. Are we inciting a global jihad on purpose here? JC - the level of stupidity is just beyond belief.

Sanctioning this green baret - is totally illegal, unjust - and a sign of complete corruption at DoD.

These Afgans should be handed over to Talibans for sharia court.

Child rape, slavery and prostitution only went out of vogue in the West 100 years ago, and of course Afghanistan is about 100 years behind the rest of civilisation... to say the least...

Saying that, the number of people defending this - and their shifting excuses - is pretty eye opening...

There is no policy to not intervene.

The policy is to tell the CO, so he can tell the next link in the chain of command, and eventually somebody can go and politely ask the Afghans if maybe they could, if it's alright with them, think about thinking about not engaging in this practice anymore.

That's some swift and righteous justice, people.

originally posted by: Shamrock6
There is no policy to not intervene.

The policy is to tell the CO, so he can tell the next link in the chain of command, and eventually somebody can go and politely ask the Afghans if maybe they could, if it's alright with them, think about thinking about not engaging in this practice anymore.

That's some swift and righteous justice, people.

It depends who you ask.. some of the troops and people who have looked at this and been there say there IS a policy... now that there's a momentary #storm about it the upperups say their isn't...

a reply to: CTRTCTRT

Clearly you missed the sarcasm. The pentagon has all the bases covered on this one.

"We haven't told anybody to not intervene. We've told them we expect all suspected abuse to reported to the chain of command, who will then have a conversation with the Afghan leadership involving stern finger wagging and polite requests to cease and desist. That's a form of intervening, ergo we have not told anybody to not intervene."

originally posted by: Shamrock6
a reply to: CTRTCTRT

Clearly you missed the sarcasm. The pentagon has all the bases covered on this one.

"We haven't told anybody to not intervene. We've told them we expect all suspected abuse to reported to the chain of command, who will then have a conversation with the Afghan leadership involving stern finger wagging and polite requests to cease and desist. That's a form of intervening, ergo we have not told anybody to not intervene."

I did... and you're right, except that we also directly facilitated it, and US contractors repeatedly engaged in child rape while there... I guess they must have accidentally grown up in Afghan culture while in America.

a reply to: DeathSlayer


The folks that are running this war and that are making the $$$ could give 2 squirts about the folks dying in it, couldn't You tell when they choose a "home base" that goes AGAINST those folks religion™ by just OCCUPYING that land? Then "THEY" have the audacity to claim these Lee Harveys as "The Chosen People" and then ALL those led astray then fight for "THEM" ..

Rules/common decency do NOT apply to THEM..