Army general fired over charges of alcohol and sexual misconduct as military cleans out corruption in its African Command
An Army major general with the U.S. Africa Command has been relieved
of his post in connection with alcohol and sexual misconduct charges,
defense officials said.
Officials said Maj. Gen. Ralph Baker, commander of the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, was fired from his command last Thursday, and he was fined a portion of his pay by Gen. Carter Ham, head of U.S. Africa Command, after an administrative hearing and review.
The officials said Thursday that Ham lost confidence in Baker's ability to command.
Baker has appealed the
administrative action to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel.
But since senior commanders such as Ham have broad latitude in decisions to relieve subordinates of command, Hagel's decision may focus more on the financial punishment, officials said.
Details of how much his pay was cut were not released.
The allegations against Baker involve harassment and inappropriate contact, said the officials, who were not authorized to talk publicly about the case so spoke on condition of anonymity.
Baker took over the task force, based at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, last May and was scheduled to leave the job in the near future.
He has returned to Washington and is temporarily serving
as a special assistant to the director of the Army staff while he awaits
Hagel's decision.
Such special assistant posts are routinely used as way stations for general officers who are under investigation and awaiting their fate, or for others who have been promoted and are waiting for their new job to open up.
Baker is one in a string of general officers who have been reprimanded or investigated for possible sexual misconduct.
Lawmakers in Congress have said that military and defense leaders have not done enough to combat sexual assault and harassment in the ranks.
The Inquisitr noted that U.S. operations have been bogged down in investigations and scandal for months.
A few months ago, then-four-star general Kip Ward was caught in a scandal of lavish spending sprees using taxpayer money.
In one instance, he was accused of taking an 11-day trip to Washington and Atlanta costing $109,000. Only three days of the trip involved Army business.
On another occasion he took a week in Bermuda with his wife.
He lost a star for the offenses and was forced to retire as a three-star general.
The latest firing signals the Africa Command could be clearing away deadweight and corruption.
Officials said Maj. Gen. Ralph Baker, commander of the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, was fired from his command last Thursday, and he was fined a portion of his pay by Gen. Carter Ham, head of U.S. Africa Command, after an administrative hearing and review.
The officials said Thursday that Ham lost confidence in Baker's ability to command.
Allegations against former Brigadier General
Ralph Baker involved harassment and inappropriate contact, said
officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity
But since senior commanders such as Ham have broad latitude in decisions to relieve subordinates of command, Hagel's decision may focus more on the financial punishment, officials said.
Details of how much his pay was cut were not released.
The allegations against Baker involve harassment and inappropriate contact, said the officials, who were not authorized to talk publicly about the case so spoke on condition of anonymity.
Baker took over the task force, based at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, last May and was scheduled to leave the job in the near future.
Officials said Gen. Carter Ham had lost confidence in Baker's ability to command
Such special assistant posts are routinely used as way stations for general officers who are under investigation and awaiting their fate, or for others who have been promoted and are waiting for their new job to open up.
Baker is one in a string of general officers who have been reprimanded or investigated for possible sexual misconduct.
Lawmakers in Congress have said that military and defense leaders have not done enough to combat sexual assault and harassment in the ranks.
The Inquisitr noted that U.S. operations have been bogged down in investigations and scandal for months.
Baker's removal as well as the recent dismissal
of former four-star general Kip Ward have led some to speculate that the
African Command is cleaning house
In one instance, he was accused of taking an 11-day trip to Washington and Atlanta costing $109,000. Only three days of the trip involved Army business.
On another occasion he took a week in Bermuda with his wife.
He lost a star for the offenses and was forced to retire as a three-star general.
The latest firing signals the Africa Command could be clearing away deadweight and corruption.