10 U.S.C. § 893a: Art. 93a. Prohibited…

Summary

People in charge of trainees who have sexual or similar improper contact with those trainees can be punished by a court-martial. That includes officers, noncommissioned officers, and petty officers who are in training leadership roles. It also includes military recruiters who have sexual or similar improper contact with someone trying to join the military or with someone enlisted but waiting to start (delayed entry). Saying the trainee or applicant agreed is not a defense. Definitions (one line each): specially protected junior member — a trainee, cadet, officer candidate, or someone in a first-career training program (including delayed entry); training leadership position — drill instructors, academy faculty, or similar leaders in initial training programs; applicant for military service — a person applying to enlist or be appointed; military recruiter — someone whose main job is recruiting; prohibited sexual activity — inappropriate physical intimacy as described in military regulations.

Title 10, §893a

Armed Forces, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Abuse of Training Leadership Position.—

Any person subject to this chapter—

(1)who is an officer, a noncommissioned officer, or a petty officer;

(2)who is in a training leadership position with respect to a specially protected junior member of the armed forces; and

(3)who engages in prohibited sexual activity with such specially protected junior member of the armed forces;

shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.

(b)Abuse of Position as Military Recruiter.—

Any person subject to this chapter—

(1)who is a military recruiter and engages in prohibited sexual activity with an applicant for military service; or

(2)who is a military recruiter and engages in prohibited sexual activity with a specially protected junior member of the armed forces who is enlisted under a delayed entry program;

shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.

(c)Consent.—

Consent is not a defense for any conduct at issue in a prosecution under this section (article).

(d)Definitions.—

In this section (article):

(1)Specially protected junior member of the armed forces.—

The term “specially protected junior member of the armed forces” means—

(A)a member of the armed forces who is assigned to, or is awaiting assignment to, basic training or other initial active duty for training, including a member who is enlisted under a delayed entry program;

(B)a member of the armed forces who is a cadet, a midshipman, an officer candidate, or a student in any other officer qualification program; and

(C)a member of the armed forces in any program that, by regulation prescribed by the Secretary concerned, is identified as a training program for initial career qualification.

(2)Training leadership position.—

The term “training leadership position” means, with respect to a specially protected junior member of the armed forces, any of the following:

(A)Any drill instructor position or other leadership position in a basic training program, an officer candidate school, a reserve officers’ training corps unit, a training program for entry into the armed forces, or any program that, by regulation prescribed by the Secretary concerned, is identified as a training program for initial career qualification.

(B)Faculty and staff of the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, the United States Air Force Academy, and the United States Coast Guard Academy.

(3)Applicant for military service.—

The term “applicant for military service” means a person who, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned, is an applicant for original enlistment or appointment in the armed forces.

(4)Military recruiter.—

The term “military recruiter” means a person who, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned, has the primary duty to recruit persons for military service.

(5)Prohibited sexual activity.—

The term “prohibited sexual activity” means, as specified in regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned, inappropriate physical intimacy under circumstances described in such regulations.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective on Jan. 1, 2019, as designated by the President, with implementing

Regulations

and provisions relating to applicability to various situations, see section 5542 of Pub. L. 114–328 and Ex. Ord. No. 13825, set out as notes under section 801 of this title.

§893a Art. 93a. Prohibited Activities with Military Recruit or Trainee by Person in Position of Special Trust