Unit Member Arrested..

You can't stop the rumor mill. The allegations are going to get out. You can't hide the ongoing investigation. You need to get what you can out in the open as soon as possible.

Once the charges are read, the command and staff are going to know. Command and staff can't keep a secret. It's the truth, they can't. You can request the accused be there to address everyone, or you can proceed with getting everyone together and going over what is known at the time with the Service Member's team. This prevents the spread of the gossip and disinformation. It can also cause witnesses to come forward and expedite the investigation so the accused can get through the process faster.

The choice to support or abandon an accused individual is a personal choice, but it should be done with all known facts. I remember being deployed to Iraq and having the BDE CDR address everyone at one time regarding allegations of impropriety of an unnamed Service Member. I remember being in Afghanistan when a different BDE CDR put the accused on blast, names and allegations without benefit of trial and in some cases, even an investigation.

I feel the first CDR had it right, it addressed potential criminal behavior and the CMD's stance while allowing the accused anonymity. The second CDR grossly mishandled the situation making association alone enough to end someone's career leaving potentially innocent individuals feeling abandoned and betrayed.

Well if is a felony and they do it off base then they answer to the civilian authorities, if it is a minor crime then feed them to the 1Sgt. If you commit a felony under the UCMJ, you will wish it was being handled by the civilians.

If Joe does something dumb on base, then again feed him to the 1Sgt
Commit a felony in another nation, better hope their prisons are not worse then ours, you may not get out alive.

Do something dumb off base in another country you may get the ass whooping of your life. It is well know that you do not mess with German police.

I had a soldier in my platoon babysit for another member of the platoon and raped the 16 month old girl. It was a good thing he was arrested by the local police, he may have never been found... Enjoyed taking his mail to him after he was removed from the general inmates, I could barley recognize him from the beating he got before trial. His crime was off post so the locals had priority. I can only pray the guy got the same thing done to him, everyday, for his 15 years to life sentence, as the 16 month old girl.