Are there any documentations of abuse by training instructors at Fort
Sill, Oklahoma?

---

Clarification of Question by wannaknownow-ga on 23 Feb 2005 20:28 PST

What recourse do army recruits have if they witness or are victims of
abuse by drill instructors during basic training?

It's been a while since I went through Basic Training, but here's what I recall.

There are three options.  The recruit can report it up his or her
chain of command (probably not wise in this case).  The recruit can
also report the abuse to the the Army Inspector General's office. 
This is bascially an ombudsman office but can initiate criminal
investigations when they feel it's warranted.  This second approach is
likely to take a long time and only be able to address systematic
problems and not individual drill instructors, unless their behavior
is flagrantly abusive.  The third approach is to directly contact your
congressional representative or senator.  Another, not documented, but
effective way to address the situation is for the recruit to inform a
relative and have them call the Company Commander of the unit. 
Usually a Company Commander is relatively removed from the daily
interactions of the soldiers and the drill instructors and thus likely
to be more open-minded.  The Company Commander will also be more
motivated to ensure that any parent's or loved one's concerns for the
recruit be addressed.  If the Company Commander does not seem helpful,
then let him or her know that your next step will be to call your
congressional representatives.  Try to come across as concerned and
wanting to help; avoid sounding accusatorial.

Good luck.