Head of Ohio State Army ROTC Suspended, Beneath Investigation for Allegedly Violating ‘Keep Away’ Order

The highest officer for Ohio State College’s Reserve Officers’ Coaching Corps, or ROTC, has been suspended from his function on campus amid an ongoing investigation associated to sexual misconduct, in line with a college spokesperson.

Lt. Col. Michael Kelvington was faraway from the ROTC place after being given a “keep away” order by campus police on the central Ohio college after which violating that order in February and March, one supply with direct information of the state of affairs informed Army.com.

Kelvington was allowed on campus just for official work amid a Title IX investigation. That legislation prohibits sexual discrimination on faculty campuses, which might embody sexual harassment and assault. The Lantern, OSU’s unbiased scholar newspaper, was first to report the suspension and “keep away” order violations.

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“Kelvington has been faraway from his place on the college and is on a restricted work standing away from cadets till the continued investigations are accomplished,” Maj. Dan Lessard, a spokesperson for U.S. Army Cadet Command, informed Army.com in a press release.

Kelvington couldn’t be reached for remark forward of publication. It was unclear whether or not he had employed an lawyer and the way lengthy the Title IX investigation had been underway.

It was additionally unclear what the particular allegations are, or whether or not they contain cadets.

“Ohio State has no tolerance for sexual misconduct or harassment of any form,” Chris Booker, a campus spokesperson, stated in a press release to Army.com. “When misconduct is alleged, we reply shortly to supply help providers the place wanted and examine the allegations and maintain people accountable when warranted.”

The information comes after the officer who led the ROTC program at California Polytechnic State College was reprimanded in January after pleading responsible to prices associated to hiding a digital camera in a altering room at a clothes retailer in 2022. Lt. Col. Jacob Sweatland was arrested by civilian authorities on the time of the incident after the digital camera was found by a teenage woman.

A reprimand serves as an administrative censure and is successfully the bottom type of punishment within the army justice system. It is unclear whether or not Sweatland will likely be allowed to depart the service with full honors and retirement.

Kelvington was commissioned at West Level in 2005 as an infantry officer, in line with Army information. He spent a lot of his time within the seventy fifth Ranger Regiment, together with time as a battalion govt officer.

He deployed 14 occasions abroad to Afghanistan and Iraq, and earned a Bronze Star with Valor and two Purple Hearts, amongst different accolades.

Editor’s notice: This story has been up to date to higher replicate Kelvington’s background with the seventy fifth Ranger Regiment. 

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