Inquiry into recruit sex

Military personnel – including two senior leaders – have been removed from command after complaints of a sexual nature at the army’s recruit training course at Waiouru.

After questions from Stuff Circuit, the Defence Force issued a public statement yesterday confirming two members of the Army Depot leadership had been replaced and others had been removed from instructional duty.

Military Police and command investigations were under way ‘‘into a number of offences and significant shortcomings, including inappropriate conduct, failure to follow standing orders, and failure to follow established procedures’’, Defence said.

Seven personnel were involved but the two members of the leadership team were not under investigation. Defence expected formal disciplinary proceedings would start soon.

Stuff Circuit understands the personnel were stood down from their posts at the Army Depot almost two weeks ago, and staff were informed last week.

The complaint or complaints allegedly relate to other staff having sex with recruits, though it is understood the senior personnel stood down were not involved directly, rather, they were stood down because of an alleged ‘‘failure of command’’.

The Army Depot is where new recruits undergo basic training.

Sources have told Stuff Circuit the ‘‘highly sensitive’’ investigation had been under way for some time over incidents in January and February this year, and that the removal from command is a result of that investigation.

‘‘There are explicit rules around this,’’ said a source.

‘‘All staff are well aware that interpersonal relations with students is completely unacceptable under any circumstances.’’

It is understood that the personnel who have been removed from their positions have retained their rank and are still employed by the Defence Force.

A source said complaints of a sexual nature were taken ‘‘extremely seriously’’.

Stuff understands a number of investigations are taking place into higher ranked personnel taking recruits off camp to drink in Ohakune, a higher ranked officer kicking a recruit in the head, recruits sleeping with other recruits, staff sleeping with recruits and staff sleeping with other staff. There were also other allegations of sexual misconduct, which included recruits on recruits. A source, who did not wish to be named, said the recruits taken off camp to drink in Ohakune with higher ranked officers were not allowed to graduate with the rest of their class in June as an investigation into the incident was taking place. He wanted to speak out about the incident as he believed it was hard for recruits to know when they could say ‘‘no’’ to higher ranked personnel.

‘‘From the beginning [recruits] have been told: listen to this person, trust this person, they only have your best interest at heart.’’