Captain with ‘glittering career’ leaves Army after kicking a cadet

A DECORATED female officer at Sandhurst will leave the Army after kicking a cadet and telling him to “get a grip”, despite an appeal from a top officer at the college.

Capt Ruth Cork, 35, was fined £600 at a court martial after she lost her temper with a trainee officer who kept making mistakes in March last year and was given a severe reprimand after pleading guilty to the non-criminal conduct. Bulford Military Court heard that during a field exercise, she stood over Charles Macallister – an officer cadet – while he was kneeling, then “steadied herself ” and kicked him.

The cadet initially did not report the assault as he “thought it was part of being in the Army”, the court heard.

Capt Cork was brought before a court martial, where it was claimed her response had been an “overzealous attempt to reinforce training”. She admitted ill-treatment of a subordinate on the first day of her trial and plans to leave the Army next month to become a project manager at a private company.

At the hearing, senior Sandhurst officers provided extensive character references and pleaded for Capt Cork not to be dismissed. She has more than 10 years of service, and was said to be “essential” and “held [in] the highest regard” at the military academy in Berkshire. Capt Cork has had a “glittering” career, with service medals from Iraq, Syria, and a Queen’s Jubilee medal.

Lt Col Nicholas Morton, commanding officer at Sandhurst’s New College, said: “I’m unequivocal in stating that in the period of time I have known and worked with Capt Cork, she has been an outstanding member of staff.

“She has been a role model for officer cadets – in particular female officer cadets – in setting an example.

“Capt Cork has been and remains essential to the delivery of [training]... Her continued presence is critical to the New College.”

Lt Cdr Peter Barker, prosecuting, said Capt Cork had been leading a field exercise on attacking and reconnaissance for recruits 12 weeks into their training.

Mr Macallister was acting as platoon commander in the exercise, but made mistakes as he was supposed to be delivering messages over a radio, the court heard.

Lt Cdr Barker said: “Capt Cork was shouting at him and there came a time where she steadied herself and threw a kick at his left side as she was standing over him.”

A welfare officer later reported it. An Army spokesman said: “We do not tolerate poor behaviour in the Army. If individuals fail to meet our high standards then appropriate action is taken.”