Report: 23 Lackland instructors misbehaved

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- At least 48 women undergoing U.S. Air Force training at a Texas base were sexually harassed or assaulted by instructors, a report released Wednesday said.

The investigation at Lackland Air Force Base has ensnared 23 trainers, The Washington Post reported. The alleged misconduct took place between October 2010 and June 2011.

The report said 13 women were sexually assaulted, six of them by the same man. Other misconduct involved inappropriate relationships, including some involving physical contact.

About 35,000 cadets go through training at Lackland every year, taught by 500 instructors. About one-fifth of the trainees are women, while most of the instructors are men.

The report said sexual misconduct is "as abhorrent as it is rare" but must be dealt with firmly.

"It tears the fabric that holds us together as an Air Force because it destroys our trust, faith and confidence in each other," the authors of the report said.