WASHINGTON – Soldiers who wore bondage gear and dog masks in sexually explicit photos while in uniform are under investigation, the Army confirmed Monday.
The photos, which have appeared on social media, show male soldiers in uniform, or parts of uniforms, wearing dog masks, leather and chains. Some of the photos depict poses of submission and sexual acts. Another photo shows a soldier in combat fatigues wearing the dog mask on an airfield.
Some of the photos appeared on Twitter Friday. The soldiers are based in Hawaii.
Internal Pentagon email traffic obtained by USA TODAY shows Army officials believed some of the photos appear to have been taken at a base gym in Hawaii. The source of the email was not authorized to release it. The email notes that reactions to the photos has been “hyper politicized.”
“U.S. Army Pacific is aware of content found on social media reflecting soldiers’ activities while wearing uniforms,” Maj. Jonathon Lewis, an Army spokesperson, said in a statement. “The incident is currently under investigation.”
Military law prohibits conduct by an officer that disgraces them personally or brings dishonor to the military profession. There are a range of potential punishments for violations, including letters of reprimand.
The legal jeopardy for the soldiers depends on several factors, said Don Christensen, the former chief prosecutor for the Air Force who now leads Protect Our Defenders, an advocacy group for troops who have been sexually assaulted.
If soldiers in the photos were officers and from the enlisted ranks, there would likely be a violation of Article 134, which governs fraternization, Christensen said. Photos in uniform, with the dog mask, would likely violate Article 133, Conduct Unbecoming an Officer.
Even if an officer has retired, the Army could be brought back to active duty and court-martialed, Christensen said. The officer could also be retired at a lower rank, which lowers pension payments.
The military can act swiftly to discipline troops whose conduct embarrasses their uniform. In 2018, the Marine Corps fired a Navy chaplain who had been caught on video having sex with a woman at a pub in New Orleans.
“All U.S. Army soldiers are expected to uphold high standards of personal conduct and to avoid discrediting the service and the uniform, both in person and across social media,” Cynthia Smith, an Army spokeswoman, said in a statement.
