Travis officers Dismissed

  • Published
  • By Staff Judge Advocate
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Legal Office
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  A Travis major received eight months in confinement, a Dismissal from the Air Force, and a reprimand during court-martial proceedings here recently. He is the fourth Travis officer to be sentenced to be dismissed from the Air Force since the middle of May for unprofessional relationships. A Dismissal for an officer is the equivalent of a Dishonorable Discharge for enlisted members.

The major, assigned to the 615th Contingency Response Wing, was convicted despite his plea of not guilty to multiple offenses including fraternization, violating a lawful regulation, false official statement, indecent acts and adultery. The accused had served as an operations officer and then squadron commander in the period during which he committed the offenses with young female airmen assigned to his squadron. A captain and lieutenant from the same wing were also court-martialed for fraternization, engaging in unprofessional relations and obstructing justice also with young female airmen assigned to their wing.

In an unrelated case, a captain assigned to the 60th Medical Group was sentenced to 30 days confinement and a Dismissal. He was charged with conduct unbecoming an officer, engaging in an unprofessional relationship and adultery. In that case, the captain was a married 35 year-old doctor engaged in a sexual relationship with a 19 year-old female airman co-worker and patient.

Air Force Instruction 36-2909, Professional and Unprofessional Relations, prohibits dating and sexual relations between officer and enlisted members because of the deleterious effect on good order and discipline. In each of the recent cases, the unprofessional relationships resulted in profound and negative effects on the unit and personnel involved. While an unprofessional relationship may exist between any supervisor and subordinate, the superior bears primary responsibility to ensure such a relationship does not occur. As these recent cases show, the superior will most often face more severe consequences should a relationship develop.