Human trafficking: Keeping our airmen informed

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Cierra Bullock
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Would you like to make more money for your family? Would you like to perform on stage in front of people? These are a couple questions young individuals are asked before being sold into the illegal business of human trafficking.

According to Mosaic Family Services, a non-profit community-based organization that provides culturally and linguistically competent services to refugees and immigrants in crisis, human trafficking is the recruitment, harboring or transporting of a person for labor services for the purpose of involuntary servitude, slavery or forced commercial sex acts; a form of modern day slavery.

Human trafficking started centuries ago and is still very active in today's society.

"Between 14,000 and 20,000 victims are trafficked into the United States yearly, the majority of whom are women and children," said Scott Goodnough, 7th Bomb Wing assistant antiterrorism officer.

Although military members have been convicted of trafficking in the United States, there is a zero tolerance policy. Servicemembers who participate in human trafficking or prostitution will be prosecuted under Article 134 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

According to Capt. Peter Rose, 7th Bomb Wing assistant staff judge advocate, servicemembers will receive the maximum punishment, which includes dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement.

Civilians working for the Department of Defense will be prosecuted under the Military Extra Territorial Jurisdiction.

Dyess personnel are given computer-based training on human trafficking. Airmen are also briefed how and whom to report incidents to, should they occur. The antiterrorism office is incorporating a more in-depth view on human trafficking for airmen when they first arrive at Dyess.

"The information is not only helpful to our airmen, but to their families as well," Goodnough said. "They take back the information they learned and share it with others. In return, we have a safer environment for our families and children on and off base."

For more information about human trafficking, call the 7th Bomb Wing antiterrorism office at (325) 696-4969.