Happy Birthday, Sarge!

In today's all-volunteer Army, the fringe benefits can be very sweet--but apparently not sweet enough for some noncommissioned officers, who have added to their "bennies" by shaking down recruits. Such abuses are gradually being exposed at five of the eight Army bases that are home to basic trainees. Typically in such cases, a recruit was given a weekend pass, allowed to get away with some minor infraction, or awarded a passing grade on a test. In exchange, he had to pay cash to his drill instructor or some other noncom, or perform a service such as washing or waxing a sergeant's car. The bribes were slyly referred to as "birthday gifts."

Four N.C.O.s have been convicted by courts-martial, and the number is certain to grow. Three of those found guilty were drill instructors at Fort Jackson, S.C. Last week the Army reported that Sergeant First Class David Mitchell had been broken to private and sentenced to five years at hard labor, after which he will be dishonorably discharged. Mitchell, 35, was the first soldier to stand trial for the massacre of Vietnamese civilians at My Lai, and was acquitted in 1970. At Fort Jackson he threatened some trainees with punishment if they did not pay him off--and recommended others for early promotions if they did. In all, he grossed only $280; his two fellow extortionists, one of whom was also sentenced to hard labor, took in about $300 each.

Easy Prey. The Army's shakedown capital--so far--has been Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., where 34 sergeants and one second lieutenant were investigated. Eleven of the men under scrutiny (including the lieutenant) have been fully cleared; three others have been cleared but could be recharged. Four are still under investigation, and another four --including a staff sergeant accused of taking $275--are awaiting their day in court. But twelve have been reprimanded or similarly punished, and Staff Sergeant Marshall Wilhelm has been convicted of receiving about $60 in shakedown money, fined $320 and brought down by one grade in rank.

At Fort Polk, La., a specialist fourth class is charged with soliciting $68 to pay for nonexistent company festivities. Investigations are also under way at Fort Dix, N.J., and Fort Ord, Calif. On all the bases, the Army has shown no interest in disciplining the recruits who paid off. They have been left alone, says an Army spokesman, because their "subservient nature" during training makes them easy prey for shakedowns.

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