January 13, 2012 - The Air Force Academy is investigating approximately 15 cadets for violating a general order prohibiting the use of intoxicating substances other than alcohol, caffeine, tobacco or lawfully used prescribed medications. The Academy issued a general order in April 2010, which applied to all Academy cadets and military members attached to the Academy.  

"Consistent with Air Force policy and instructions, the U.S. Air Force Academy has a zero tolerance policy regarding the use of these intoxicating substances, and certainly illegal drug use or possession," said Lt. Gen. Gould, the Academy superintendent.

"The abuse of these products by military members, cadets or cadet candidates contradicts the nature of the profession of arms, threatens our military readiness, and impairs our responsibilities to the Air Force and our nation and we will not stand for this behavior, ever."

Based upon investigations by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations in late 2011, the Academy launched an immediate investigation into cadets who allegedly violated the general order. Those who disobey the general order face disciplinary actions, which could include trial by court-martial, non-judicial punishment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, reprimands and involuntary separation from the Air Force.  

"These alleged actions by just a few of our more than 4,300 cadets are not what we expect of America's future leaders and are not reflective of the highest standards we uphold every day," said Brig. Gen. Richard Clark, the Academy's commandant of cadets. "We expect the very best from our cadets, and we do not tolerate this type of behavior."

The allegations of drug use surfaced when sexual assault charges were filed against three male cadets. On January 5, 2012, three Air Force Academy cadets were charged with sexual assault in separate cases that occurred over a time span of 15 months with the most recent one happening in November.  

In one of the cases a cadet was charged with attempted rape while a female cadet was "substantially incapacitated?, intoxication. This same cadet is also being charged for an incident back in March in which he is being accused of forcing a fellow cadet to touch his genitals and underage drinking.

In 2005, the Department of Defense (DoD) established the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Program to promote prevention, encourage increased reporting of the crime, and improve response capabilities for victims. The Department?s vision is to enable military readiness by establishing a culture free of sexual assault.

The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO) within the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) is responsible for the policy that supports the SAPR Program and oversight activities that ensure its effectiveness. The DoD SAPR Policy requires each Military Service to maintain its own SAPR program, document both Restricted and Unrestricted Reports of sexual assault, investigate Unrestricted Reports of sexual assault, and hold subjects appropriately accountable.