Soldiers say they bribed their way through basic training

[Hoss68]

[font=Arial][size=1]August 25, 2004

[/size][/font][font=Times New Roman, Times, serif][size=4][b]Soldiers say they bribed their way through basic training[/b][/size][/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=2][b]Associated Press[/b][/size][/font]


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[size=2][font=Franklin Gothic Medium]FORT SILL, Okla. — Three graduates of the Fort Sill Artillery Training Center have testified in a bribery trial that they paid money to ensure passing marks in their physical training tests. [/font]
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[font=Franklin Gothic Medium]Sgt. 1st Class Larry T. Jones and Staff Sgt. Kelvin L. Womack are accused of orchestrating a bribery scheme. Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth E. Robinson also has been charged with bribery. [/font]
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[font=Franklin Gothic Medium]Pvt. Chad Webb of Fort Campbell, Ky., testified Tuesday that he hid while his platoon conducted its final series of basic training tests. When asked by the military prosecutor, Capt. Kathleen Allred, if he still received passing marks, the soldier replied, “Yes, ma’am.” Webb said he paid $600 for his “P.T. (physical training) insurance” — a term commonly used by each witness. Pvt. Zachery Harper of Fort Sill; Daniel Gilman of the Army National Guard; and Webb each identified Pvt. Jesse Lax and Pvt. Daniel Renteria as the contacts for a soldier wanting to purchase “P.T. insurance.” Neither Lax nor Renteria has been charged with any crimes. Gilman said Lax provided a “price list” for basic trainees. [/font]
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[font=Franklin Gothic Medium]“Our position is the only link these witnesses have is to Lax and Renteria, and those two had their little Mafia operation going quite well,” said defense attorney James Willson. “Those two were wise beyond their years. They tell everyone they’re working for the drill sergeants, and that keeps everyone quiet. No one is going to question the drill sergeants, right?” Maj. Eugene Deloach, the hearing’s investigating officer, will make a recommendation to Fort Sill’s commanding officer on whether a court-martial should be held. [/font][/size]

[AT3Weins]

Now that's a scary thought.

[Carnage_59]

[QUOTE=Hoss68][font=Arial][size=1]August 25, 2004

[/size][/font][font=Times New Roman, Times, serif][size=4][b]Soldiers say they bribed their way through basic training[/b][/size][/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=2][b]Associated Press[/b][/size][/font]



[size=2][font=Franklin Gothic Medium]FORT SILL, Okla. — Three graduates of the Fort Sill Artillery Training Center have testified in a bribery trial that they paid money to ensure passing marks in their physical training tests. [/font]

[font=Franklin Gothic Medium]Sgt. 1st Class Larry T. Jones and Staff Sgt. Kelvin L. Womack are accused of orchestrating a bribery scheme. Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth E. Robinson also has been charged with bribery. [/font]

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In 1980 an Air Force Master Sergeant was "selling" passing PFE (Promotion Fitness Examination" scores for $300. The way he got caught was for some strange reason when he was the examiner, many of the people got a score of 98 on their exams. An OSI agent, posing as an examinee, busted him.

These are the times we just know about.

String 'em up. Make it known that this crap won't be tolerated.

I wonder how many scores get bought at the service academies.

[Woodmonkey]

[QUOTE=Carnage_59]String 'em up. Make it known that this crap won't be tolerated.[/quote]
A must.....

[quote]I wonder how many scores get bought at the service academies.[/QUOTE]
Good question, Tom.

[kruser79]

Okay, I guess for starters:

What in almighty hell is so difficult about an APFT that you need to bribe your way into a passing score? (So you pass in Basic Training, big deal. That's only the first of many, even for those only staying for four years. Whatcha gonna do? Always look for the easy "bribe" mark? Stupid)

Why in almighty hell does an NCO need money so badly that he is willing to give up a career for a measley couple hundred bucks? Stupid

This whole thing?

Stupid.

[Hoss68]

Pretty frickin' scary if you ask me~ :rolleyes: