Four years ago, Army Specialist Vanessa Guillén was brutally murdered by a fellow soldier at Fort Hood (now Fort Cavazos), Texas, a tragedy that highlighted severe issues within the military, including rampant sexual harassment and systemic mishandling of personnel disappearances.
In response, the Army promised substantial reforms, including the overhaul of its “missing soldier protocols” under Army Directive (AD) 2020-16. These reforms were intended to improve search efforts, communication with families, and the documentation of absent soldiers. However, an internal Army audit, obtained exclusively by Rolling Stone, reveals that these new policies have largely been ignored.
The audit indicates that commanders frequently failed to report absences accurately and that units neglected to document missing soldiers properly. This lack of adherence to AD 2020-16 has exacerbated the risks to at-risk personnel, undermining the Army's commitment to safety and transparency.
The broader pattern of neglect in the U.S. military has contributed to an epidemic of sexual assault, domestic violence, drug abuse, and preventable deaths. For instance, Fort Bragg (now Fort Liberty) saw 109 soldier deaths in 2020 and 2021, with fewer than 20 being from natural causes. Many of these deaths, including homicides and drug overdoses, were preventable.
Mayra Guillén, Vanessa’s sister and founder of the I Am Vanessa Guillén Foundation, criticized the Army’s continued failures. “The Army’s failure in following policy is a slap in the face to not just us but many families that have lost their loved ones,” she said, emphasizing the need for the Army to take the audit’s findings seriously.
Despite the Army’s promise to prioritize soldiers’ welfare, the audit found that 74% of absences were not reported correctly and 89% of the time, units failed to follow proper procedures for documenting missing soldiers. This includes delays in notifying local law enforcement, further complicating efforts to locate absent personnel.
The systemic issues extend beyond Fort Hood/Cavazos, with numerous reports of unexplained deaths and suicides among soldiers. For example, Ana Basaldua Ruiz, who had reported sexual harassment, was found dead at Fort Cavazos, with the Army ruling her death a suicide—a finding disputed by her family.
The Army’s lack of transparency and accountability has led to persistent problems and a staggering waste of resources and lives. As the audit underscores, the Army’s failures reflect deeper issues within the military system that compromise the safety and well-being of its personnel.
Amy Braley-Franck, an advocate for military sexual assault victims, points out that the complexity of the Army’s procedures only adds to the problem. “The solution is simple: immediately contact the soldier, their family, and law enforcement. The military’s fixation on the nature of the absence is irrelevant to the immediate need for action,” she argues.
In sum, the U.S. military’s ongoing mismanagement and failures in implementing crucial reforms not only waste taxpayer resources but also endanger the lives of soldiers, highlighting a critical need for comprehensive change and accountability.
