Posted on 09/07/2004 9:16:43 PM PDT by Former Military Chick
Fort Sill officials are taking issue with a column that appeared on retired Col. David Hackworth's Web site on Monday.
Appearing in the online magazine DefenseWatch under the header "Fort Cheat," the harshly worded column centers its cross hairs on the U.S. Army's Field Artillery School at Fort Sill.
Among the assertions made by the author:
*"Even though students are required to sign an honor sheet prior to starting the course, at least 11 fledgling lieutenants have been caught cheating or plagiarizing on exams during the past year alone. In nearly every instance, these miscreants have been permitted to graduate with little more than a slap on the wrist."
*"During the past year, more than 20 percent of the basic officer students have flunked the course, only to be recycled until they pass. There's plenty of evidence suggesting that some slackers might have failed the course on purpose to avoid duty in Iraq."
*"The questions that need answering are: Why have the once-high standards of Fort Sill's Artillery School been dragged in the mud? And who's responsible?"
Col. Tony Puckett, commander of the 30th Field Artillery Regiment that provides the Officer Basic Course (OBC) for lieutenants and the Captains' Career Course, defended the quality of officers Fort Sill is producing when he spoke at a press conference Wednesday.
"I personally think the quality of officer we put out is better today than when I was in 24 years ago," Puckett said. The commander said he can't vouch for statements made in the column: "They're not what I found through investigating the records at Fort Sill."
In a telephone interview with The Lawton Constitution on Thursday, Hackworth said he drew information for his column from a number of sources at Fort Sill, which he does not identify. "If you name a source in this particular case, you've burned a career," he added.
When asked what he did to verify their claims, Hackworth responded, "Absolutely. I triangulated with about eight or 10 sources. I've been around the military about 60 years, so I have sources like you wouldn't believe, from general to private."
Although Hackworth claims there is a "witch hunt" to find his sources, the commander of the 30th FA Regiment said he's not concerned about that.
"We're just concerned in knowing the real truth," Puckett said.
Nine students -- less than 1 percent -- have been accused of cheating over the last 14 months, Puckett said. They went through an academic review board process, also. The board is a panel of senior officers who review all the circumstances surrounding any type of allegation. Puckett said they take a "whole man" approach, taking into account recommendations from instructors and fellow students. The Staff Judge Advocate's office conducts a legal review to make sure due process was served before the panel's recommendation goes to the commanding general.
As a result of that process, three of the nine were allowed to remain on active duty. One had his commission terminated, and he was released from active duty. The remaining five are still going through the adjudication process, and their cases have not been resolved, Fort Sill officials said.
"As for Hackworth's claims that officers accused of cheating have only been released from active duty after committing serious criminal offenses, they are not true. The officers released from active duty for cheating were not accused of any criminal offenses," according to a question-and-answer sheet provided by Fort Sill Public Affairs Officer Jon Long.
Puckett said the three who were retained got general officer letters of reprimand. "That's not just a slap on the wrist," he added.
Fort Sill Chief of Staff Col. Mark McDonald said a letter of reprimand can affect an officer's career. It would depend on future performance, said Puckett -- it's a soldier's chance at rehabilitation.
One student had his career ended, the colonel noted.
The school has measures in place to prevent or catch cheaters. Puckett said the instructors are test control officers. They have multiple versions of tests, and they do a sampling of materials on open-book tests to make sure students are not using unauthorized materials.
"Regardless of the control, there will be some who try," Puckett said.
"We have re-verified that our test control procedures are sound. We began a plan to do test rewrites prior to the publication of the article. We are also looking at test scramble software to maintain the integrity of testing. Students continue to be briefed upon arrival by the chain of command on the honor code policy," Long's statement reads.
In going back through student trends over the past year, Puckett found that of more than 1,100 students who graduated, 250 were Marines and 850 Army artillery officers. As with any academic curriculum, school officials want enough rigor to make it challenging. Roughly 9 percent did not pass the school's 70 percent standard the first time, he said. (The Marines have a goal of 80 percent for their graduates.)
The school has an academic review board process by which students who fail to make a passing grade on a test are counseled and given a retest with additional instruction. If they do not meet all the requirements within the 5 1/2-month module, they are generally given one chance to recycle. In some cases, officer candidates get a second chance.
Puckett said the process is the same that was in place when he came through OBC 24 years ago.
"In the 30th Regiment we're interested in quality. We want to put out good artillerymen," he said, citing favorable reports he's had from commanders in the field.
"We do not agree that the Field Artillery School's standards have declined. Mr. Hackworth's allegations are untruthful," the statement from the Fort Sill Public Affairs Office reads.
The Q&A sheet provided by Public Affairs says there is absolutely no evidence to suggest that lieutenants are deliberately failing to avoid service in Iraq.
"In fact quite the opposite," Long's response states. "We have had two incidents where volunteers were requested to go and round out an Enhanced Separate Brigade for deployment to Iraq. We had overwhelming numbers of lieutenants volunteer."
When asked if he stands by what he wrote, Hackworth said, "Absolutely. You think I would write it if I didn't stand by it?"
He said his column goes to newspapers after it has appeared online, and he estimated it is read by 13 million readers. As the Aug. 30 column, he said, "It's really gotten some good vibrations so far. If you look at my Web site, you will find a fair number of responses from people who say what's going on at Sill is going on across the board, at universities all across the country."
Hackworth called it "extremely dangerous" to tolerate cheating here, because Sill has the longest of OBC courses, and its graduates go to the front lines. If they don't have their material down cold, if they aren't technically and tactically competent, it will bring back the ghost of "friendly fire," he said.
Not sure if all of you know Hackworth, but, in the past he has been considered a respected military anaylist. However in the last year or so he has appeared to ramble about issues and sometimes says things that leaves the reader to question him.
As a military officer, I find Hackworth's behavior to be increasingly bizzare. Not sure why he is acting this way, but my respect for the man diminishes more and more with each of his comments. Quite a shame.
ping
Weird, very weird.
Not sure if all of you know Hackworth, but, in the past he has been considered a respected military anaylist. However in the last year or so he has appeared to ramble about issues and sometimes says things that leaves the reader to question him.
I agree. I used to respect his writings but of late I have been ignoring them. Substance is gone and it just seems like his info is inaccurate. By the way, why doesn't he go after Kerry and his Combat V like he did with Admiral Boorda and his unawarded medal? Now if he was to do that then I would read his article but seems like he has no bone to pick with Kerry.
I didn't even know that it was possible to flunk the Officer Basic Course. Of course, the arty branch probably has a lot more to cover than AMEDD.
I wonder what is going on with him?
While there exists a radio scum who wouldn't know honesty or integrity if they bit him on the ankle and who claims to hold the title of truth detector, Hack is the real deal when it comes to ferreting out the straight skinny when it affects the well-being and survival of the guys who are where the bullets are whizzing by. From grunt to battlefield commanders, Hack knows where every would-be secret is to be found and will uncover every nefarious misfeasence of commanders and DOD civilians who think that the lives of the young troops are on the line solely to advance the careers and political asperations of the brass and civilian neo-cons.
Early on, Hack saw the SecDef for the egomaniac that he has demonstrated to the discerning public to be. He also pegged the current JCS as a bunch of yes-men who would tell the SecDef and the hell-bent to invade Iraq POTUS anything they thought the big guys wanted to hear if it might enhance their already august positions.
Hackworth is the type of leader who should be CinC and running these far flung conflicts vis-a-vis the current gang that couldn't shoot straight we now are forced to suffer.
"IF" what you claim is true then why has he been silent about that "vietnam warlord" demanding we make him president?
Hackworth has become disturbed and is disturbing because he's a blowhard who cynically believes everything awful about the military even though it's been his ticket to fame.
The gang that cannot shoot straight has taken down two totalitarian states, kept the US from having another attack, and is assisting those same states to become self-governing. Hack is a great man? Isn't he one of the ones who did so much to assure the horrible pictures out of abu Graib became public and thus inspiration for many anti-American zealots? If so, thanks a lot, Hack, you genius and self-promoting great military man and real patriot.
Right now, I'd say that Mr. Hackworth is an unguided missile. I used to have a lot of respect for him, but after his trashing of the swift boat vets and totally refusing to even hear evil of Mr. Kerry (in spite of an abundance of evidence to the contrary), I don't think much of him as an objective observer. More like a partisan Hack...for what its worth.
I agree about the behavior. My husband noticed a change last year, and, does not put the same importance on his articles as he used to. Sad end.
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