Possible 'consequences' weighed after officers' racy photo shoot


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SALT LAKE CITY — Military personnel involved in the unauthorized filming of a pin-up calendar photo and video shoot earlier this year at Camp Williams could face fines, loss of rank or forced retirement, according to Utah National Guard officials.

As of Thursday, new information has come to light—evidence proving that Camp Williams was used, as well as state-owned weapons, and one public safety officer got paid while participating.

Major General Jeff Burton said a handful of men were involved. He's not telling who they are or what position they hold yet, but said it's clear they had access to the base and violated security protocols.

The head of Utah's National Guard says no question—this calendar shoot would have never been approved.

"For me, this is personally hurtful that this event occurred," said Burton.

"We categorically condemn the video. It is in violation of all the things that we stand for," Burton said.

While this portion of the shoot happened off base, a statement from the Department of Public Safety today said that three of the weapons used were state property, mostly with privately furnished ammunition.

"The whole range of punishments are being considered. Everything from forced mandatory retirement to administrative actions," Burton said.

According to Burton, Hot Shots Calendar crew members used personal relationships with those who had access to the base to sidestep proper channels and get inside.

"It's in total violation to the values that we espouse," Burton said during a meeting with the Veterans and Military Affairs Commission on Thursday. "People that were trusted agents allowed that to happen, and there will be consequences for those individuals."

Gov. Gary Herbert, after the taping Thursday of his monthly news conference on KUED Ch. 7, said appropriate disciplinary action will be determined once the investigation is complete.


The preliminary information to me is that there's been a breach of protocol and security, and those people who have breached that will be held accountable, and that includes punishment.

–Gov. Gary Herbert


"The preliminary information to me is that there's been a breach of protocol and security, and those people who have breached that will be held accountable, and that includes punishment," Herbert said. "A variety of different levels of punishment would probably be available to Gen. Burton."

The 2015 Hot Shots Calendar promotional video shows the bikini-clad models firing what appear to be military-grade machine guns and riding in military vehicles. Burton said a Howitzer cannon, four-wheelers and a ground ambulance are some of the military-owned equipment seen in the video.

Burton declined to say how many soldiers were involved, but Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Steven Fairborn said on Oct. 17 that a senior non-commissioned officer from the 19th Special Forces Group allowed "limited filming" at Camp Williams without authorization.

The Department of Public Safety also issued a statement Thursday saying that two members of its Special Emergency Response Team, one of whom was on the clock at the time, were involved in the video.

Three guns used in a video — a Glock 18, MP-5, and an M4 — were confirmed to be state property, according to DPS Capt. Doug McCleve. The ammunition, however, was not.

While DPS does provide public information and training, the Hot Shots video was not and would not have been approved by the department, according to the statement.

"The Hot Shots photo shoot was not a DPS approved or sanctioned activity and did not represent the values of our department. The presence of DPS personnel at the range was based on an independent decision that did not involve their chain of command," the statement read.

Policies and procedures exist in the Guard to support nonfederal entities and businesses, Burton said, but had the photo shoot gone through established means of authorization, "it would never have been approved," he said.

Burton, who oversees the readiness and training of 7,300 soldiers and airmen in the state, said the military strives to create a "climate" where people are judged only "by their behaviors and performance, not by their gender."

"What really offends me about the video is it objectifies women in a way that I don't appreciate," he said. "I can tell you, products like that have no place in the military."

Contributing: Lee Lonsberry and McKenzie Romero

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