Drill Sergeant Imprisoned for Groping Women

A Ft. Jackson drill sergeant was sentenced Thursday to five years in prison and dishonorably discharged for groping or otherwise mistreating 20 women under his command at the Army’s largest basic training center.

First Sgt. Yoosuf Asad portrayed himself as someone who could help women with the physical ailments that typically arise during basic training. The women in his training group nicknamed him “Dr. Asad” because of his groping.

“He made it seem like that was his job, that you could go to him for anything, that he was supposed to be doing it,” one victim said.

Asad pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault, eight counts of indecent acts and six counts of illegal association. He originally faced more than 40 charges alleging improper conduct with 28 women under his command. Twenty-nine charges were dismissed under the plea bargain.

Asad could have gotten 79 years in prison if convicted of all the charges. In addition to the prison term, he was demoted to private.

Asad, in a statement read by his lawyer, apologized and asked for forgiveness. He said going to church has helped cleanse him of lust.

Defense attorney Hank Hamilton said the incidents, while unfortunate, were inevitable under the Army’s policy of integrated training.