Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy will fire or suspend a large number of enlisted officers and in Fort Hood, Texas, in what Pentagon officials call an unprecedented disciplinary action to combat a trend of sexual assault, harassment, suicide, and even murder, CBS News has known.
The announcement predated the U. S. military’s planned release of a long-awaited report tuesday, after investigating the culture of command at the base, the investigation that began after the murder of 20-year-old military specialist Vanessa Guillén in April.
Guillén’s death is one of at least 25 similar to this year’s army post.
CBS News resources that say they have noticed the report and worked with the victims’ families at Fort Hood say disciplinary action will be taken as a result of the report, adding reassignment and dismissal. The report of approximately 140 pages deserves to describe what is wrong with this base and in the army as a whole.
He is also expected to make some 70 recommendations on how the army can repair and accept as true with its soldiers.
In a personal interview with CBS Evening News host Norah O’Donnell, McCarthy admitted that the army had failed her soldiers, especially for harassment and sexual assault.
McCarthy ordered the review because of what happened to Guillén.
“I looked for a new pair of eyes for us to perceive the challenge and solve it,” McCarthy told O’Donnell.
When asked what surprised him, McCarthy replied, “Only scale and fear of retaliation, the sheer number of Americans who were afraid to get ahead of themselves because they feared retaliation at a higher level. “
McCarthy said he was determined to replace and last month promised responsibility and transparency in the ranks.
“Leaders, regardless of rank, are guilty of what’s going on in their groups and will have to have the courage to talk and intervene,” McCarthy said in November.
Tuesday’s report is expected to propose an action plan to address the leadership disorders being developed in Fort Hood with the reallocation and completion of the plan. These disorders were amplified by Guillén’s murder. Her painting discovered miles from the base months after her disappearance.
His sister Mayra spoke exclusively with CBS News correspondent Mireya Villarreal after the investigation commissioned last summer.
He told Villarreal he thought the infantrymen at the base were safe.
“It’s too much, it’s either injuries or they pretend to be wounded, you know, we don’t know the truth. Several murders outside, inside the base and, you know, at this point I don’t feel like everyone’s safe. in there, ” he said.
Before her death, Guillén told her circle of family and friends that she had been sexually harassed at the base. The army said it had no evidence of aggression, but his death is still being investigated.
Guillén’s death provoked an international motion in which thousands of former members of the army workers’ corps shared their stories online. This war cry also led to legislative action. In September, Congress introduced the “I am Vanessa Guillén” law to replace the way the army handles sexual assaults in its ranks.
But Guillén’s circle of relatives is not convinced that Tuesday’s report will provide them with any closure.
“We cannot ask the wolf to stay in the henhouse. We ask them to fix themselves. We want to act as civilians or as a global combination and do this for them because the people do too, and they love us,” Natalie Khawam said. , the family lawyer.
Khawam told CBS News that the bill “I’m Vanessa Guillén” is blocked in Congress, but they hope to have a hearing sometime after the new year.
Some adjustments are already being made. The military has plans in a position to review its sexual harassment reporting program known as SHARP.