This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
It wasn't just a communications breakdown that led to British bikini models holding a photo shoot at Camp Williams without commanders knowing about it, a military investigator has found. A sexist culture — including pornography sold in base stores — meant too few questioned the group's antics, the investigator concluded.
The investigator, whose name was redacted, recommended the Utah National Guard remove all pornography and media "that promote sexist behavior and objectify women or men" from the Camp Williams post exchange — the retail store commonly known as the "PX."
The investigator also recommended the Utah National Guard "consider formally requesting through appropriate channels" that the U.S. Army take the same steps at PXs across the world.
"...Too many Soldiers don't see a calendar shoot of this nature as something that isn't in harmony with our values," the investigator wrote. "This is reinforced in the U.S. military culture based on what is sold in our Post Exchanges and the nature of some USO events the U.S. military endorses."
The investigator added: "I don't believe this simply [was] a matter of a bunch of 'uptight Mormons' being upset over a video as [redacted] suggests," referring to an Oct. 15, 2014, email reviewed as part of the probe. "I believe across all religions including the LDS faith and among those with no religious preference, we are divided on whether a calendar shoot with women in bikinis is simply 'not a big deal' or whether it goes contrary to our core values."
It was unclear Friday whether any changes had been made at the Camp Williams PX or if the Utah National Guard had submitted any such request to the Army. A Utah National Guard spokesman did not return messages Thursday or Friday seeking comment.
The Utah National Guard last week released its report on the well-publicized bikini calendar photo and video shoot. Its findings were first reported by the Virginia-based Military Times. The National Guard redacted all names and other portions of the report.
What's left describes how a lone non-commissioned officer, typically someone in the sergeant ranks, from B Company, 1st Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group was contacted in March 2014 by someone he knew from Smith Optics, a Clearfield company that makes accessories for shooting. That person asked if the 19th Special Forces Group's airborne unit would be willing to lend assistance to a calendar shoot.
At a meeting at a barbecue restaurant in Draper, the non-commissioned officer agreed in concept to provide military items already on display and to allow the use of weapons and vehicles as props.
The report also discusses how the non-commissioned officer was injured when an improvised explosive device destroyed his vehicle in Afghanistan in November 2003. Soldiers interviewed said the physical and psychological injuries he suffered may have impaired his judgment.
The non-commissioned officer told an investigator he wanted to help with the calendar shoot because he believed it supported a good cause — soldiers wounded in combat.
At a meeting in April, Company B staff discussed the photo shoot and the cause they believed it would support. The investigator's report said staffers generally agreed the cause was worthy, but participants also came away with the impression the photo shoot had already been approved at the command level of the 19th Special Forces Group. At that meeting, B Company staff were assigned to support the models and photographers.
Those models and photographers arrived at Camp Williams on the morning of May 27 and were taken to a training center. The models set up hair and makeup stations in a building and on floor space where B Company drills, the report says.
The models were filmed and photographed at the training center over four days. There's no description of significant events occurring during the first two days.
On the third day, a soldier arrived in a tank without orders to do so, the report said. The models were filmed and photographed with the tank. On the fourth day, two soldiers driving an ATV and a mine-resistant ambush protected vehicle arrived. One model was allowed to drive the ATV.
Also that day, soldiers helped one model and a photographer gain access to a Cobra helicopter on display at Fort Douglas.
On May 31, the photo shoot moved to the Big Shot Ranch near Grantsville. Utah National Guard soldiers drove a truck towing a rubber raft. The raft was used as a prop in the photo shoot.
The report cleared two officers of dereliction of duty charges. However, it revealed the charges were substantiated against four other soldiers. The report found two acts of bringing discredit to the National Guard, five acts of dereliction of duty and one count of sale, waste or destruction of National Guard property.
The investigators also substantiated one count of violating the National Guard sexual harassment policy for what was described as a hostile environment created by the photo shoot.
In November, the Utah National Guard announced the non-commissioned officer was being forced to retire with an honorable discharge.
Three other soldiers received lesser punishment, including one required to repay $200 in fuel charges.
Two officers with the Utah Department of Public Safety also assisted with the photo shoot at the Big Shot Ranch. One of those officers received a three-day suspension. The other received a one-day suspension.
The report also discusses efforts to remove the calendar shoot's association with the 19th Special Forces Group after its behind-the-scenes video was posted on YouTube. A memo and email from mid-October discuss efforts to contact the Hot Shots calendar makers and ask for references to the Group, Camp Williams and Utah to be removed.
The investigator also suggested tighter restrictions on who is allowed access to Camp Williams and monitoring of the access vendors have to Utah National Guard soldiers.
Twitter: @natecarlisle —
Military weaponry used during photo shoot
• MRAP
• M997 ambulance
• Lightweight tactical all-terrain vehicle
• M109 Paladin tank
• Humvee
• Ground mobility vehicle
• Zodiac boat
• Weaponry*: M240B, M249, several M4s
*No evidence guns were fired.
Source: Utah National Guard report