COLORADO SPRINGS, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Air Force Secretary James Roche speaks on leadership Thursday at the Air Force Academy where 18 current and former women cadets allege they were intimidated after reporting sexual assaults.
The address, entitled, "Developing Leaders for a New Era," was previously scheduled as part of the academy's 10th Annual National Character and Leadership Symposium, a discussion of critical moral and ethical issues facing the world.
The visit comes amid investigations into allegations first reported by KMGH-TV in Denver that women cadets were harassed after reporting sexual assaults on the academy campus. Three U.S. senators are now calling for an independent investigation apart from an Air Force inquiry already under way.
Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., joined Sens. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, Tuesday called on the Pentagon to order a second investigation by the inspector general. Congressional hearings are also a possibility, Allard says.
The calls for further action came after Roche met with Allard for 30 minutes in the senator's Washington office. There were also six more reports of intimidation from women cadets, bringing the total to 18, according to the senator's office.
Allard, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he wants Roche to deal directly with the women who say they were sexually assaulted by fellow cadets and then intimidated.
"I do believe he is taking it seriously," Allard told the Denver Post. "He agrees with me that we cannot tolerate this in any shape or form."
Roche promised action on Allard's complaints.
"I think we are actually on the same wavelength," he said. "We have been talking about the academy for some time. I feel that Sen. Allard is making a contribution, and we both have the same goals in mind."
Allard blames a lack of Air Force leadership for not ensuring that the women's complaints were properly investigated when they occurred.
In a statement Feb. 21, the Air Force Academy superintendent said there is "zero tolerance" for sexual assault at the academy and in the Air Force.
"Any and all perpetrators will be brought to justice and disciplined appropriately," said Lt. Gen. John Dallager. "Such reprehensible action is utterly inconsistent with our commitment to train and equip a world-class officer corps that is the pride of our nation."
