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Another Instructor Faces Article 32 Hearing At Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland

Staff Sgt. Christopher Jackson faces four allegations of developing unprofessional relationships and having sexual relations with two trainees.

One of the two women testified in the Article 32 hearing at Lackland that she viewed Jackson as a good leader and friend, and that he helped her decide to remain in the military at a time when she wanted to quit. She said it was later that she pursued a relationship with him.

Although neither woman was directly under Jackson’s training at the time of the alleged events, it is against Air Force regulations for an instructor to have a personal relationship with a trainee at any level.

An Article 32 hearing is the military equivalent of a grand jury hearing. From here, the Investigating Officer will make a recommendation on whether Jackson should be court-martialed.

The Staff Sgt. also faces an obstruction of justice charge for allegedly asking one of the airmen to conceal information from investigators. The five violations carry a maximum punishment of 13 years confinement and a dishonorable discharge.

Jackson is one of 25 Military Training Instructors convicted, charged, or under investigation in the sex scandal involving 49 victims who went through Lackland’s basic training program.

Eileen Pace is a veteran radio and print journalist with a long history of investigative and feature reporting in San Antonio and Houston, earning more than 50 awards for investigative reporting, documentaries, long-form series, features, sports stories, outstanding anchoring and best use of sound.