Has the military finally gotten serious about rape?

[No Elephants]

Or, the Lackland situation could be the Air Force version of Tailhook--make a big deal of one incident or one place, then back to "business" as usual.

So far, when it comes to illegal and inappropriate behavior toward female members of our armed forces, the U.S. military has been a lot like Joe Paterno (right, Senator Webb?)

Jul 21, 3:12 AM EDT

Air Force instructor faces sentencing for rape

By WILL WEISSERT
Associated Press


SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- An Air Force instructor convicted of raping a female recruit and sexually assaulting several others is due back in court on one of the nation's busiest training bases Saturday for the start of the sentencing phase of his court-martial.

Staff Sgt. Luis Walker, who faced the most serious charges in a sweeping sex scandal involving Lackland Air Force Base instructors, could be sentenced to up to life in prison and dishonorably discharged. A military jury convicted him Friday on all 28 counts he faced, including rape, aggravated sexual contact and multiple counts of aggravated sexual assault.

Prosecutors say from October 2010 through January 2011, Walker sexually assaulted or had improper sexual or personal contact with at least 10 female recruits. Lackland is where all Air Force recruits go through basic training.

Walker is among 12 Lackland instructors investigated for sexual misconduct toward at least 31 female trainees, and among the six charged on counts ranging from rape to adultery.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_AIR_FORCE_SEX_SCANDAL?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-07-21-03-12-56