US MILITARY PERSONNEL PUNISHED OVER ILLEGITIMATE ACTS IN AFGHANISTAN

        Washington, 12 Syawal 1434/19 Agustus 2013 (MINA) –  According to reports, around 17 people including 11 military personnel of the US military were punished for placing ads on commercial websites seeking sex while they were deployed to Afghanistan.

         Seven Marines, two saiors, one soldier, and one Air Force individual were among the 11 who were punished, the Los Angeles Times reported.

         The Marine Corps quoted by Los Angeles Times said, most were enlisted but an unspecified number were officers, and six non-American civilian employees working with the military were also ordered to leave the country, according to Khaama Press report monitored by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)

        The Ads were discovered by Criminal Investigative Devision during investigations in 2012, which included men seeking women, others involved men seeking other men.

         Lt. Col. Stewart Upton, spokesman for the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, quoted by Los Angeles Times said, the investigations “did not target personnel based on rank, gender, marital status or sexual orientation, but rather were directed at conduct that is considered prejudicial to good order and discipline while conducting combat operations in a war zone.”

         The commanders of the military personnel meted out the punishment, and the service members will possibly face loss of rank, extra duty, fines and restriction of privilages.(T/P012/E1).

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)