By From the Stars and Stripes:
A military policeman was sentenced Tuesday to two months¿ confinement, a $2,000 fine and a reduction of two ranks ¿ from sergeant first class to sergeant ¿ after he admitted to an adulterous affair with a younger soldier within his own platoon, according court-martial proceedings.
But James E. Thompson, who enlisted 19½ years ago, was spared a discharge from the Army, and he promised to retire as soon as he is eligible, he told the court in a tearful statement.
¿I¿m no longer fit to serve in the Army,¿ a weeping Thompson told Col. Gregory Gross, chief judge for the 6th Judicial Circuit. ¿I am totally ashamed and humbled to be here today ¿ I have fallen from my path.¿
Earlier in court, Thompson, 47, admitted to having a sexual relationship with Pfc. Lindsey Bishop, who also is a member of Bravo Platoon, 557th Military Police Company within the 8th Military Police Brigade.
This MP is very lucky to be allowed to retire. However, think about the loss of pay this guy is looking at. An E7 retiring with 20 years in service would make $1,783 a month in retirement pay. An E7 would even make more if they stayed in service longer or was promoted, so this is the bare minimum number. Now compare this number to what he will get instead which is an E5 pay which is $1,263 month. That is loss of $6,240 retirement dollars a year. This guy is 47 and let’s say he lives to the average age of 72 years old. That is 25 years from now, so the total amount of money he would then loose is $156,000. Also, remember that is the conservative number of what this guy has lost not to mention that his marriage is probably over and the damage he has done to his kids if he has any.
Looking at the monetary consequences of stupidity in my opinion is a great way to pound home a point into soldiers about indiscipline. I have always been a big believer that informed soldiers make good decisions. It is a shame that a platoon sergeant, an MP to boot, couldn’t make good decisions for himself.
