--- title: "Green Beret who beat up accused child rapist will be allowed to stay in uniform" date: "2018-04-02" modified: "2020-10-21" authors: - name: "Blake Stilwell" job_title: "Editor-In-Chief, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/blake/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-trending/green-beret-who-beat-up-accused-child-rapist-will-be-allowed-to-stay-in-uniform/" categories: - "Military News" - "Special Operations" - "Tactical" --- # Green Beret who beat up accused child rapist will be allowed to stay in uniform ![]() [Sgt. 1st Class Charles Martland will be allowed to stay in the Army]() after the service reversed its decision to kick him out. Martland was being forcibly discharged over a 2011 incident in which he confronted an Afghan police commander who had brutally raped a local boy. --- ![]() Sgt. 1st Class Charles Martland (Photo: Duncan Hunter) Late Thursday night, Martland won the fight against the Army's Qualitative Management Program, which gives the boot to soldiers with black marks on their records. The Army Board for Correction of Military Records reviewed the Green Beret's performance history and pulled his name from the QMP list. Martland admitted that Capt. Dan Quinn and he assaulted the Afghan official during his 2011 deployment to Afghanistan's Kunduz Province. The commander was engaging in "bacha bazi," or "boy play" — an Afghan practice where young boys in [sexual slavery]() are often dressed up as women and forced to dance and serve tea. The practice was forbidden under the Taliban, but experienced a rebirth after the Taliban's ouster by NATO forces and U.S. troops were ordered [by their commanders not to intervene.]() When the Afghan confessed to raping the boy and beating the child's mother for telling local authorities, Quinn "picked him up and threw him," Martland said in his official statement. "I \[proceeded to\] body slam him multiple times." The line removed from his [Army record read](): "Demonstrated poor judgment, resulting in a physical altercation with a corrupt ALP member. Judgment and situational awareness was lacking during an isolated instance." Hundreds of veterans and other concerned citizens wrote letters and started petition drives in Martland's defense. Even actor and Marine veteran Harvey Keitel got involved and urged California Congressman Duncan Hunter to intervene. Hunter, a Marine Corps veteran and San Diego-area congressman, immediately came to Martland's defense, calling the Army's actions "[totally insane and wrong]()," and adding that Martland's case "exemplifies the problems with the Army." ![]() *Martland (second from left) during a visit with General David Petraeus* An Army spokesman confirmed to Fox News that Martland will no longer be forced out. "In SFC Martland's case, the Army Board for Correction of Military Records determination modified a portion of one of SFC Martland's evaluation reports and removed him from the QMP list, which will allow him to remain in the Army," Lt. Col. Jerry Pionk said. Quinn, now a civilian, said, "Charles makes every soldier he comes in contact with better and the Army is undoubtedly a better organization with SFC Martland still in its ranks." "I am real thankful for being able to continue to serve," [Martland told Fox News](). "I appreciate everything Congressman Duncan Hunter and his Chief of Staff, Joe Kasper, did for me." ## Author Blake Stilwell is We Are The Mighty's Editor-in-Chief, covering military news, entertainment, and history, along with veteran education, employment and entrepreneurship. He is a former U.S. Air Force combat cameraman with degrees in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations, Business Management and Middle Eastern Affairs. After leaving the military, he began working in film and television production in New York and Los Angeles, work that included ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO Sports. He then spent two years in Washington with White House Communications, before joining the Near East Foundation. At NEF he served as an International Development Fellow, then Communications Officer, and finally, Media Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the Palestinian Territory, he coordinated strategic communications between eight country offices, international media, and government and NGO partners. He began a career focused on writing and editing in 2015 with We Are The Mighty. He left in 2019 for Military.com, but returned as Editor-in-Chief in 2025. Blake’s work has been seen on CBS News, Fox News, CBC, The Chicago Tribune, Task & Purpose, Military Times, Recoil, Skillset, American History, and was shockingly even used in a Supreme Court argument. He is an avid traveler and small business owner in Ohio, where he spends most of his energy fixing up a very old house. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()