The Army will not discharge a Green Beret who beat up an Afghan police commander for raping a boy, a reversal that followed allegations that U.S. troops have been discouraged from intervening in sexual abuse among locals.
The Army Board for Correction of Military Records confirmed to NBC News Friday that Sgt. 1st Class Charles Martland would be taken off a list of officers to be removed from service.
The Army did not explain why it changed course, but the board's statement suggested that it had to do with a technicality in the negative evaluations Martland received after the September 2011 incident.
"We were under no illusions that the Army would stand up and say Charles was right to tune up that child molester," said a spokesman for California Rep. Duncan Hunter, who championed Martland's cause.
