Decorated Green Beret Won't Be Forced out of Army for Assault of Afghan Officer
Sergeant First Class Charles Martland's case had drawn support in Congress.
— -- The Army has decided it will not dismiss a decorated Army Green Beret sergeant who attacked an Afghan police commander, who he said repeatedly raped a village boy, in 2011.
While deployed in 2011, Sgt. First Class Charles Martland admitted that he and his team leader had roughed up the local Afghan police commander, who he said raped the young boy for days. His team leader, Captain Dan Quinn, was removed from command and later left the Army.
Martland was reprimanded for his role in the incident, which occurred after he and Quinn decided they could no longer ignore the abuse they said the commander committed. The Army began the process to separate him from active duty after a negative evaluation of that incident was placed on his permanent record.
The process, known as the Army's Qualitative Management Program (QMP), removes non-commissioned officers from service when their actions do not meet Army standards.
Some members of Congress have voiced support for Martland and criticized the Army for trying to force out a decorated solder who had confronted a child molester.
As a last step, Martland challenged the Army's process by appealing to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records.
In a statement released Thursday evening, the Army announced that Martland's evaluation record had been amended, an action that would stop the process of his removal via the QMP.
"The Army Board for Correction of Military Records determination modified a portion of one of SFC Martland’s evaluation reports and removed him from the QMP list, which will allow him to remain in the Army," the statement said.
"The Army Board for Correction of Military Records considers each case on its own merit when determining to grant or deny an applicant’s request," said the statement. "It is incumbent upon the applicant to provide evidence, argument and relevant documents in support of demonstrating an alleged error or injustice. In addition to information provided by the applicant, boards also consider information in available personnel, medical and staff agency records and information provided by subject matter experts."
An Army official told ABC News that Martland has been permanently removed from the current QMP list and the modified evaluation has been added to his official records.