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Wednesday, December 9, 2020

'Gravely Disappointed:' 14 Fort Hood Leaders Fired, Suspended in Wake of Vanessa Guillen Murder

Family, friends & supporters of murdered U.S. Army Private
First Class Vanessa Guillen rally on the National Mall to
call for justice and for Congress to investigate her death
by Matthew Cox: In one of the most sweeping responses to command climate problems in recent memory, Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy announced today that he has relieved or suspended 14 leaders at Fort Hood, Texas, in the aftermath of Spc. Vanessa Guillen's disappearance and murder earlier this year.

Maj. Gen. Scott L. Efflandt, deputy commanding general for Support at III Corps, Col. Ralph Overland and Command Sgt. Maj. Bradley Knapp, the 3rd Cavalry Regiment commander and command sergeant major, have been relieved of command, according to a separate Army statement. All were among the leaders identified in an independent review launched after Guillen's death and made public today.

The review included nine findings and 70 recommendations addressing major flaws in the Army's Sexual Harassment and Assault Response Prevention (SHARP) program at Hood, as well as a "command climate at Fort Hood that that was permissive of sexual harassment and sexual assault," McCarthy told defense reporters at the Pentagon.

"I have determined the issues at Fort Hood are directly related to leadership failures," McCarthy said. "Leaders drive culture and are responsible for everything the unit does or does not happen to do.

"I am gravely disappointed that leaders failed to create a climate that treated all soldiers with dignity and respect."

Following Guillen's murder, which family members have said came after she was sexually harassed at her workplace, Army leaders have had to appear before Congress multiple times to answer for the tragedy. Many have expressed outrage, and some Army recruiters in Texas have reported encountering hostility and anger from those who've heard Guillen's story.
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Matthew Cox reports for Military.com .
Tags: Matthew Cox, Military Times, Gravely Disappointed, 14 Fort Hood Leaders Fired, Suspended, Vanessa Guillen MurderTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service and "Like" Facebook Page - Thanks!
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