For whatever it's worth, what bothers me is not that such investigations occur, or even that CI's are used at the SAs. I mostly agree with the idea that our cadets MUST be held to a higher standard and deserve (yes, deserve) to live with benefits... and consequences of an honor code.
But beyond the shock value and revelations in this story, are some fundamental issues around due process and rights of the accused. As well as profound questions on how the informants are treated. These are afterall teenagers and in some rare cases, minors even!
For example....
Article 31 provides servicemembers with a broad protection against being compelled to incriminate themselves. The text of Article 31 provides as follows:
a. No person subject to this chapter may compel any person to incriminate himself or to answer any questions the answer to which may tend to incriminate him.
b. No person subject to this chapter may interrogate or request any statement from an accused or a person suspected of an offense without first informing him of the nature of the accusation and advising him that he does not have to make any statement regarding the offense of which he is accused or suspected, and that any statement made by him may be used as evidence against him in a trial by court-martial.
c. No person subject to this chapter may compel any person to make a statement or produce evidence before any military tribunal if the statement or evidence is not material to the issue and may tend to degrade him.
d. No statement obtained from any person in violation of this article, or through the use of coercion, unlawful influence, or unlawful inducement, may be received in evidence against him in a trial by court-martial.
Do we really want to say to these young men and women who have taken the oath and are in the military (yes, most folks here agree they are "in" the military), you are not afforded the protections of MCJ or any other measure such as Miranda rights? Instead we can simply use whatever methods we feel are appropriate to feret out wrong doings without any restrictions, oversight or consideration for your rights whatsoever.
THAT is where I draw the line.
Thanks for posting the text. Agree with you 100%.