Ehrlich on Washington column, December 15, 1996

MEWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Second Congressional District of Maryland 1407 York Road, Suite 304 Lutherville, Maryland 21093 3 1 5 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 EHRLICH ON WASHINGTON Week of December 15, 1996 By Congressman Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. A VISIT TO APG Last week, I participated in a bipartisan congressional visit to the U. S. Army Ordnance Center and School at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG). As APG’s representative in Congress, I played unofficial host to 12 of my congressional colleagues, including three fellow Marylanders. I have visited APG approximately a dozen times since I was elected in 1 994. I always look forward to these visits. Clearly APG is one of the premier military installations in the nation. Just last January, the Army selected APG as the site of a new personnel center — a decision that will create 247 new civilian jobs. More than 12,000 civilian and military employees work at the post. They perform their duties with dignity and honor. Regrettably, the alleged activities of a few individuals have temporarily overshadowed the work these fine men and women perform for our country. As you are aware, serious allegations of sexual misconduct and rape at the Ordnance Center and School have drawn national attention. Concern over these allegations brought my colleagues and me to Aberdeen last week. I am deeply disturbed by these allegations. At issue here is a fundamental question of trust. When parents entrust their son or daughter into the hands of the United States military, they do so with the implicit understanding that their child’s commander officer will provide the best quality leadership, training, and mentoring possible to new recruits. Parents must have absolute confidence that the U. S. military will not tolerate the abuse of authority in its treatment of recruits. Reports of sexual misconduct are completely unacceptable and must be dealt with swiftly and severely. c