The Maryland Army National Guard fired its top recruiting official Friday after an internal investigation revealed “significant improprieties,” including at least two cases of fraudulent enlistment.
In addition to the recruiting and retention battalion officer, whom the Guard declined to name, 10 others were disciplined in what the organization called a self-initiated investigation that resulted in significant policy changes. Other offenses included misuse of government resources and fraternization, said Lt. Wayde Minami, a Guard spokesman.
“In two cases, a potential recruit who was not qualified to be a member of the Army National Guard was brought on board by misrepresenting or hiding facts that would disqualify them,” Minami said. “We found two cases where groups of recruiters went on assignment to another location that was supposed to be a training session and, apparently, they didn?t do much training.”
Those soldiers will be required to reimburse the government for those expenses, Minami said. The Guard also will end extended assignments within the recruiting force, begin an ethics-training program and assign a senior noncommissioned officer to monitor the force.
In all, four officers, six noncommissioned officers and one junior enlisted soldier were punished in varying degrees, including reduction in rank, reassignments and letters of reprimand. Three others were counseled.
The Guard released a statement Friday describing the investigation, prompted by a December report in the Baltimore City Paper.
“We take our relationship with the community extremely seriously and feel strongly that the actions of a few do not reflect the hard work and professionalism of the thousands of men and women that make up the Maryland Army National Guard,” Col. Grant Hayden, acting assistant adjutant general for the Army, said in the statement.
One federal lawmaker admonished the Guard for investigating allegations only after they made headlines. Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-District 7, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said he will do everything in his power to establish reporting systems to ensure oversight.
