Shaw squadrons’ offensive material turns up in lawsuit
A federal lawsuit challenging how the military handles sexual assault cases uncovered an unofficial songbook used by Shaw Air Base pilots including dozens of sexist and violent lyrics.
The suit is part of an ongoing federal challenge by a Baltimore attorney to reform how the military handles sexual assault cases. Sexual assault allegations now are handled through the military’s chain of command.
The songbook is evidence in a lawsuit filed by the attorney, Susan Burke, in the Eastern District Court of Virginia alleging instances of retaliation, sexual harassment and abuse by military commanders.
In one case, former Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Smith brought forward an unofficial Air Force songbook that she said was used by Shaw personnel in the 20th Fighter Wing’s 55th, 77th and 79th squadrons in 2012 that contained the inappropriate lyrics, according to a report by ABC News.
Smith said she filed an administrative complaint over the book at that time, but the general assigned to address her complaint regularly sang the sexist songs, the network reported.
Shaw officials forwarded The State newspaper’s questions Friday about the songbook to U.S. Air Force headquarters in Washington. The songbook’s existence was confirmed by an Inspector General’s investigation in 2012, said Col. Michel “Scud” Escudie, an Air Force media officer at the Pentagon.
Escudie provided hundreds of pages of FOIA documents to The State. They showed that an inspection of 20th Fighter Wing squadrons during deployments prior to 2012 found pornography and other inappropriate materials. The materials included the songbook, videos and “doofer” books, which list the mistakes of airmen, often using inappropriate language and content.
Escudie said the Air Force took action “to address this kind of behavior. ... This specific inspection was designed to help commanders ensure a professional environment. The inspection helped correct conditions detrimental to proper standards of readiness and ensure military fitness and good order and discipline in the U.S. Air Force.”
A range of disciplinary actions – from official admonishments to counseling to reassignment – were taken against the commanders of the 20th Fighter Wing squadrons, according to Air Force documents.
Escudie said commanders inspected thousands of units at more than 100 Air Force installations, where almost 600,000 Air Force military and civilian personnel worked. Any inappropriate items discovered were turned over to authorities for further investigation and action.
At the time, Stars and Stripes reported the Air Force found 3,987 examples of “unprofessional” items, including doofer books, and in one case, a pubic hair in a log book kept in an office at Air Force Global Strike command.
The most wide-ranging category covered 27,598 “inappropriate/offensive” items. It included sexually suggestive posters in public areas, obscene cartoons and more than 200 images of aircraft nose art, some dating to World War II.
“This type of inspection was part of a bigger effort to refocus our force and ensure commanders are equipped to create and foster healthy and respectful work environments,” Escudie told The State. “Furthermore, the health-and-welfare inspection is still a tool routinely used by unit commanders, command chiefs and first sergeants. ... Commanders have direct responsibility for the culture and climate in their unit and are held accountable for the work environment.”
This story was originally published April 3, 2015 at 7:39 PM with the headline "Shaw squadrons’ offensive material turns up in lawsuit."