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It is the allegations at Aberdeen, though, that raise the most troubling questions about the Army's ability to police itself. Nearly all the cases made public so far involve relationships that occurred between trainees and their direct commanders within the same company of the 143rd Battalion--a violation of one of the cardinal rules of the military, which forbids even consensual sex between a superior and subordinate in the same chain of command. Moreover, the relationship between drill sergeants and new recruits is one of the most highly charged in the military. Assuming authority that falls somewhere between in loco parentis and God, a training cadre must mold vulnerable young men and women--many of them barely out of their teens and away from home for the first time--into soldiers. "Drill sergeants are the stewards of a special trust and responsibility," said Major General Robert Shadley, commander of the Ordnance Center and School at Aberdeen. "We must ensure that they do not abuse their power."
Although most of the Aberdeen incidents occurred between July and September 1996, officials on base say they first became aware of the problems there in early September, when Private Jessica Bleckley complained that Staff Sergeant Nathanael Beach of the 143rd Battalion's Charlie Company had sexually assaulted her. Her protest unleashed a volley of other allegations, mostly involving Staff Sergeant Delmar Simpson, a 12-year Army veteran. According to Army documents, he told a trainee, "If anyone finds out about me having sex with you, I'll kill you." In the wake of such threats, the Army decided to jail Simpson two months ago, pending a court-martial. Simpson now faces an array of charges, including nine counts of rape involving three women and several counts of forcible sodomy and assault. One female private alleged she was abused by Captain Derrick Robertson, Simpson's commander in the 143rd's Alpha Company. Robertson, who has been charged with rape and assault, has admitted to a relationship with a recruit, though he denies raping her. And Beach is charged with adultery, threatening a female soldier and fraternization. All three men are married. If court-martialed and convicted, Simpson and Robertson could spend the rest of their life in prison.
The damage they may have done, though, is permanent. Bleckley, in an interview with TIME, describes being terrorized by both Beach and Simpson and humiliated at the hands of the Army. Still, she is proud she came forward. "People don't need to go through what I went through," she says.