Posted on Oct 30, 2015
Half of National Guard detachment investigated for sex with ‘young’ prostitutes overseas
137K
240
181
13
13
0
From Popular Military:
Members of a Tennessee National Guard unit are being accused of “dishonorable conduct” while they were on an aid mission overseas –in an area of Africa known for human trafficking.
The US Army has launched a criminal investigation into the actions of the 775th Engineering Detachment- from Jackson, TN.
The unit was sent to the horn of Africa to help dig water wells in and around Camp Lemmonier in Djibouti, and across the border in Ethiopia.
The Tennessee soldiers allegedly disregarded warnings from a captain, “That there was an issue with human trafficking in the area.”
A military investigation revealed that the soldiers were given training in early July and were told about the human trafficking issue, and that “women often ended up stranded in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, while trying to make it over to the Middle East.”
During that training they were told, “not to engage in using prostitutes.” But it looks like some of the soldiers didn’t heed the warnings. Before and after the training, military investigators found “probable cause” that 9 of the 19 soldiers had sex with prostitutes either at an off-base residence in Djibouti or at the Samrat Hotel in Dire Dawa.
Regional experts say poverty on that part of the continent makes people desperate, and it’s not uncommon for them to try and ‘eke out a living’ by selling themselves.
A local prostitute, Tina, told a photographer in an interview, “The best is to find an American soldier” She continued to say “The French are the most generous clients; they pay for our apartments so that we don’t have to work. But sooner or later, they all go back to their wives.”
One sergeant blurted out during interviews later on, that “several women were younger than his daughter.” But the age of his daughter was blacked out in the documents obtained by WSMV.
One lieutenant reportedly did do something after seeing the soldiers bring prostitutes back to their hotel rooms. The documents show that a lieutenant said “senior leaders” were taking prostitutes to a room where their weapons and secret documents were stored, and where a secure communications system was kept.
Many believe the soldiers also committed security violations while engaging in this “dishonorable conduct.”
But during interviews, the soldiers claimed that no classified material was compromised.
Some of the soldiers have hired attorneys and are not talking. Many of them did not want to give up their phones, which may contain evidence of criminal actions.
Human trafficking experts say the National Guard needs to explain what happened.
“To perpetuate that absolutely counters everything that we should be there to do,” said Derri Smith, executive director of End Slavery, an anti-human trafficking nonprofit. “I think it if was your daughter or your niece, you would think it was a big deal,” Smith said.
© 2015 Bright Mountain, LLC
More here: http://popularmilitary.com/half-of-national-guard-detachment-investigated-for-sex-with-young-prostitutes-overseas/
Members of a Tennessee National Guard unit are being accused of “dishonorable conduct” while they were on an aid mission overseas –in an area of Africa known for human trafficking.
The US Army has launched a criminal investigation into the actions of the 775th Engineering Detachment- from Jackson, TN.
The unit was sent to the horn of Africa to help dig water wells in and around Camp Lemmonier in Djibouti, and across the border in Ethiopia.
The Tennessee soldiers allegedly disregarded warnings from a captain, “That there was an issue with human trafficking in the area.”
A military investigation revealed that the soldiers were given training in early July and were told about the human trafficking issue, and that “women often ended up stranded in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, while trying to make it over to the Middle East.”
During that training they were told, “not to engage in using prostitutes.” But it looks like some of the soldiers didn’t heed the warnings. Before and after the training, military investigators found “probable cause” that 9 of the 19 soldiers had sex with prostitutes either at an off-base residence in Djibouti or at the Samrat Hotel in Dire Dawa.
Regional experts say poverty on that part of the continent makes people desperate, and it’s not uncommon for them to try and ‘eke out a living’ by selling themselves.
A local prostitute, Tina, told a photographer in an interview, “The best is to find an American soldier” She continued to say “The French are the most generous clients; they pay for our apartments so that we don’t have to work. But sooner or later, they all go back to their wives.”
One sergeant blurted out during interviews later on, that “several women were younger than his daughter.” But the age of his daughter was blacked out in the documents obtained by WSMV.
One lieutenant reportedly did do something after seeing the soldiers bring prostitutes back to their hotel rooms. The documents show that a lieutenant said “senior leaders” were taking prostitutes to a room where their weapons and secret documents were stored, and where a secure communications system was kept.
Many believe the soldiers also committed security violations while engaging in this “dishonorable conduct.”
But during interviews, the soldiers claimed that no classified material was compromised.
Some of the soldiers have hired attorneys and are not talking. Many of them did not want to give up their phones, which may contain evidence of criminal actions.
Human trafficking experts say the National Guard needs to explain what happened.
“To perpetuate that absolutely counters everything that we should be there to do,” said Derri Smith, executive director of End Slavery, an anti-human trafficking nonprofit. “I think it if was your daughter or your niece, you would think it was a big deal,” Smith said.
© 2015 Bright Mountain, LLC
More here: http://popularmilitary.com/half-of-national-guard-detachment-investigated-for-sex-with-young-prostitutes-overseas/
Posted in these groups: 
Army National Guard
Crime
Army National Guard Crime
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 65
41
41
0
I know a lot about this whole story, and it is indeed a sordid affair that had real consequences. There were quite a number of senior Soldiers involved in this.
For the Soldiers, the consequence was getting thrown out of theater. There was talk that they'd be subject to UCMJ from the TN Guard when they went home, but I have not heard that any occurred.
For JTF-HOA, the consequence was that well-drilling operations were disrupted and many not completed. The wells being dug were in arid and desolate areas where nomads had been supplied by a UN program dropping off barrels of water in the boonies. Many of those wells will never be finished.
For the USA, the consequence was ejection from Ethiopia, disrupting activities there and in nearby nations. This required an awful lot of scrambling in order to cover the gap, and among other things resulted in the CJTF-HOA CG getting relieved.
For the women, their circumstances are bad. Really bad. Many are just in places like Dire Dawa while on the way to Saudi Arabia through Yemen. Once they get there, their future is bleak indeed.
One thing that I can't fathom is what kind of dumb ass do you have to be to engage with a prostitute in EAST AFRICA where the HIV infection rate is between 10 and 30%? You can bet the infection rate is going to be higher among hookers.
These morons need to get the book thrown at them. Through their actions, they not only committed a crime that all of us should agree is a terrible one, but they caused real damage to ongoing activities in the region.
For the Soldiers, the consequence was getting thrown out of theater. There was talk that they'd be subject to UCMJ from the TN Guard when they went home, but I have not heard that any occurred.
For JTF-HOA, the consequence was that well-drilling operations were disrupted and many not completed. The wells being dug were in arid and desolate areas where nomads had been supplied by a UN program dropping off barrels of water in the boonies. Many of those wells will never be finished.
For the USA, the consequence was ejection from Ethiopia, disrupting activities there and in nearby nations. This required an awful lot of scrambling in order to cover the gap, and among other things resulted in the CJTF-HOA CG getting relieved.
For the women, their circumstances are bad. Really bad. Many are just in places like Dire Dawa while on the way to Saudi Arabia through Yemen. Once they get there, their future is bleak indeed.
One thing that I can't fathom is what kind of dumb ass do you have to be to engage with a prostitute in EAST AFRICA where the HIV infection rate is between 10 and 30%? You can bet the infection rate is going to be higher among hookers.
These morons need to get the book thrown at them. Through their actions, they not only committed a crime that all of us should agree is a terrible one, but they caused real damage to ongoing activities in the region.
(41)
(0)
SFC (Join to see)
1SG (Join to see) Def a jacked up situation. Here's my question. Where is all the talk of the AF and RA personnel that were attached to this unit? Why are they specifically talking about just the NG Soldiers? Yes there is more to this.
This has been over and done with for quite awhile. Why is now being brought up? There's only 1 article (that I could find).
Maybe more vetting of articles instead of "hip shooting" would be more appropriate.
*disclaimer*. I am not defending anyone in this article. They def brought a black eye to ALL services because of their actions.
Gotta love the media.....
This has been over and done with for quite awhile. Why is now being brought up? There's only 1 article (that I could find).
Maybe more vetting of articles instead of "hip shooting" would be more appropriate.
*disclaimer*. I am not defending anyone in this article. They def brought a black eye to ALL services because of their actions.
Gotta love the media.....
(1)
(0)
1SG (Join to see)
SFC (Join to see), the Guard unit was the most involved; the ones and twos from other elements were dealt with somewhat differently. There were Reserve, Active Army, and other services involved too, but the well drillers were way out of control, and thus a more titillating story.
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)
1SG (Join to see)
The truth, MSG Dave Good?
The truth is we are (well, were) drilling wells in Africa as a form of non-military aid in return for access to certain facilities and over flight rights. Some of these countries have (ahem) unscrupulous leadership, so military aid is restricted by Federal Law. Hence, HCA (Humanitarian Civic Action) projects like these.
The State Department drives this bus.
The truth is we are (well, were) drilling wells in Africa as a form of non-military aid in return for access to certain facilities and over flight rights. Some of these countries have (ahem) unscrupulous leadership, so military aid is restricted by Federal Law. Hence, HCA (Humanitarian Civic Action) projects like these.
The State Department drives this bus.
(0)
(0)
21
21
0
IF proven true, relief for causes should flow like water, and the UCMJ should be used to prosecute those guilty to the max. No room for this in MY Army, or the military in general.
BTW...this is another reason why extra terrestrial life constantly skips earth.
BTW...this is another reason why extra terrestrial life constantly skips earth.
(21)
(0)
Bam Ambi
SGT Jenny Breininger - ALL reservists? Or just the ones you have had contact with? Just curious if you know EVERY reserve soldier in the country, or if that was just a blanket statement. Because I know a LOT of active duty Joes that make the army look bad on a regular basis.
(0)
(0)
SSG Warren Swan
SGT Jenny Breininger - There's going to be the "standard" divide between AC/RC/NG components. It's not the healthiest attitude to have and they(WE) need to change (this is coming from a former AC dude who couldn't stand RC/NG troops. I realized too late that it's the person rather than the component that makes them seem one way or the other. But in this case, this "Solder" is everything that is seen as wrong in the military and shoudn't be allowed to stay in. He has no values system, he's fail the creed at go, and by this article he's not doing anyone regardless of skin color any favors. He's an embarrassment if true and maybe he'll just retire and call it a day.
(1)
(0)
SGT Jenny Breininger
Bam Ambi - I'll say the ones I've come in contact with. My spouse was reserve after active duty and he experienced it too. Along with my BFF, she went reserves after AD. It's just a lack of full understanding and training. I experienced it at home when we put together training for a reserve unit for MOS training. I will tell you for sure that if an MWD were in distress that thing would die, because these people didn't do the job everyday and you can't prepare someone for a variety of life threatening emergencies in two weeks, when they barely have the general idea of what their job is in the first place. You can't expect someone to get the full on big picture when they aren't expected to adhere to it everyday. I'm not saying it's their fault but the is a huge disconnect that needs to be addressed. You can't cram everything in the month before deployment, which is how it's normally done, it just doesn't work. Once a month training to do a job in the medical field is not enough. If you think it is, try having one of them start a drip set on you, you'll regret it. so think about this big picture when the whole command of every branch on camp is reserve... People aren't sure of what's legal and they don't know what to do when there is an issue, just because of the lack of experience. I don't know if things are still mostly run by reservist on Camp Lemonnier, but it would give a good explaination as to why the same stuff is still going on. I honestly think deployments should be split down the middle... Half of the team is AD and the other RC.. there would be conflict but there would be accountability and experience.
(0)
(0)
SGT Jenny Breininger
SSG Warren Swan - it's definately not a great attitude to have but when you are active duty and clearly have more experience (TIS) with something but you are outranked by someone that got promoted in the reserves, it strikes a nerve. (You guys have a weird promo system from my recollection). It wouldn't even be a bad thing if the ego wasn't the issue. Most of the higher ranking reservists I had experience with, would not heed warnings or advice of others with more experience. Though we weren't in combat we still had casualties, they weren't soldiers (our drivers) that died in flash floods because leadership didn't know how to yield even to a natural disaster. That is unacceptable. Just because you lack experience doesn't mean you get to "try it out" at the expense of others. I'd be fully supportive of RC soldiers that can humble themselves and accept the help lower ranking AD, that just want to get the job done safely. Ive met some awesome RC soldiers in CA that are fucking awesome at what they do and how they present themselves, but for the most part the higher ups are the ones that are the worst and they have all the authority to screw it all up for everyone else. And this SGM retired in 2012, and when I saw this last year, it made my blood boil, just like it did everytime I heard that jack ass speak. I don't hate many people especially ones I don't really know, but that guy... I'll say it. I hate that guy... I'm out now so I can totally say it without repercussions.
(0)
(0)
14
14
0
This photo was taken in 06-07 Iraq at a WWE event on COB Speicher. The Soldiers in the picture from the 97th MP Bn have nothing to do with the story. Poor image choice
(14)
(0)
1SG (Join to see)
SGT William Howell - That may be! ;-)
But I can assure you that many of the troopers in this image are some of the finest Soldiers I've ever served with. I'm just upset they used the image they did because I don't want anyone to associate these troops from 2006-2007 with the ones in the story.
But I can assure you that many of the troopers in this image are some of the finest Soldiers I've ever served with. I'm just upset they used the image they did because I don't want anyone to associate these troops from 2006-2007 with the ones in the story.
(1)
(0)
SGT William Howell
1SG (Join to see) I totally get that. Pretty crappy to just pick a picture with soldiers and a attractive woman and use it. I would be miffed it those were people I severed with too!
(0)
(0)
SFC (Join to see)
That's the problem with RP screwing with members posts. They claim 600K+ members, but how many are active? I'm sure some join, poke around, and move on. Manipulation of posts may play a role in some people leaving.
Some people will see this picture and recognize a soldier, then assume they were mixed up in this scandal.
1SG (Join to see), you posted this a day ago and RP has done nothing to fix it.
Some people will see this picture and recognize a soldier, then assume they were mixed up in this scandal.
1SG (Join to see), you posted this a day ago and RP has done nothing to fix it.
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google