Military Probes Air Force Academy Rape Claims

C O L O R A D O&nbsp S P R I N G S, Colo., Feb. 19 -- Pentagon officials arrive at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., today to begin investigating allegations of sexual assault lodged by dozens of serving and former female cadets.

Female cadets at the school say they have been victimized by their own classmates, according to correspondent John Ferrugia, who reported the story for KMGH, the ABCNEWS affiliate in Denver. Dozens of female cadets claim they were punished after telling the school they were sexually assaulted by classmates.

The women, who asked that their names be kept confidential, all told Ferrugia similar stories about being afraid to report sexual attacks by fellow cadets. Those who did report and seek help from academy officials say they suffered retaliation through reprimands and threats of expulsion.

Scared and Voiceless

"If the administration doesn't kick you out, the rest of the cadets will, so don't report it," said one cadet.

"The message is rape is acceptable so don't say anything about it," said a second cadet.

"If you report you are crazy because no one is going to believe you," a third cadet said.

The allegations prompted Sens. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., and John Warner, R-Va., to call for a Pentagon investigation, which is slated to start today.

The office of Air Force Secretary James Roche announced Friday that a special review panel had been formed to review sexual assault policies in the military branch, "with a particular emphasis on the Air Force Academy," just outside Colorado Springs, Colo.

One former cadet said that when she told the Air Force she had been raped by an upperclassman, she was harassed, and then officially reprimanded for having sex in the dorm. She eventually dropped out of the academy.

"You don't have a voice at all," she said. "I just remember being so scared."

The news investigation also revealed that these are far from isolated charges. The Air Force Academy has confirmed that since 1996, 99 cases of sexual assault have been reported to the academy's own hotline.