THE TENSION: Pentagon: Army Investigates Misconduct Allegations

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, May 29, 2009 -- The following news release made available Friday by the U.S. Department of Defense is the text of a statement regarding an Army investigation into allegations of misconduct:

The Department of the Army announced today that the Army's Criminal Investigation Command and Multi-National Force - Iraq are investigating allegations of serious misconduct involving members of the 266th Military Police Company, Virginia Army National Guard, which allegedly took place during the unit's pre-deployment mobilization training at Fort Dix, N.J., in fall 2008.

The allegations state that several soldiers of the unit inappropriately photographed and filmed female soldiers while showering.

Commanders in Iraq learned of the allegations on May 21 and initiated an Army Regulation 15-6 investigation on May 22. The Criminal Investigation Command initiated a criminal investigation on May 23.