Saturday, April 15, 2000

6 accused in airman's death

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Family dismayed no one faces criminal charges

BY Jim Hannah
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Schindler

        The Air Force said Friday that it will charge one noncommissioned officer with dereliction of duty and reprimand five others for their part in the death of a St. Bernard airman.

        Airman Micah J. Schindler, 18, a graduate of Roger Bacon High School, died Sept. 12 of heatstroke brought on by a basic training exercise in Texas.

        Airman Schindler died two days after he collapsed during a midday march at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. The Air Force said he died of heatstroke complicated by a rare medical condition known as water intoxication, caused by drinking too much water.

Mike and Julie Schindler with their son's boots and fatigues. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

        The Air Force general in charge of training at the base and six other officers flew to Cincinnati Friday to deliver the report to Airman Schindler's parents and explain how the military came up with its conclusions.

        “It has just brought up the pain again,” said Airman Schindler's father, Mike. “It hasn't brought closure for me. I don't believe the people have been held accountable to the degree they should be.”

        Mr. Schindler, a St. Bernard police officer, said he encouraged his son to join the Air Force, a move he regrets.

        “Now I feel they didn't and don't care about Micah,” he said after the meeting. “He was just a bump in the road that they drove over.”

        Mr. Schindler is upset no criminal charges were filed against anyone involved. The punishments handed down are considered “non-judicial punishments.”

        “Once again, I offer my sincere sympathy to Micah Schindler's family, friends and fellow trainees,” Gen. Lloyd W. “Fig” Newton, commander of the Air Education and Training Command said after meeting with the family. “A significant element of our responsibility is to provide the safest training environment possible consistent with effective military training.”

        One noncommissioned officer will be charged under Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice with dereliction of duty for failing to properly assess Airman Schindler's condition after he vomited during the dinner break less than an hour before he collapsed.

        Maximum punishment under Article 15 includes reduction in rank, 30 days correctional custody and forfeiture of half a month's pay for two months. Two officers and three noncommissioned officers will be presented with letters of reprimand for lapses in duty performance that contributed to the events which led to Airman Schindler's death. The letters of reprimand to the officers will result in the creation of unfavorable information files which are used when the individual is considered for promotion.

        The Air Force declined to release the names of the officers who were disciplined, citing privacy laws.

        The report identified several problems in the development of the field training program that may have contributed to Airman Schindler's death. They include lack of communication between the Air Force's training and medical organizations during the march and failure to properly assess Airman Schindler's medical condition on the march.

        “I don't know what we can do from here,” said Mike Schindler. “People can't be sending their sons and daughters away and not have them taken care of. I wish people would write their congressman.”

       

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