Partying, Overstepping Rules Contributed to Commander’s Reprimand

Allegations of misconduct have been levied against Col. Christopher Vanek, the former commander of the 75th Ranger Regiment. Vanek received a general officer letter of reprimand, which can often be a career killer, for allegations that were outlined in an Army Regulation 15-6 investigation.

Vanek, now the assistant chief of staff for U.S. Africa Command, relinquished command of the 75th Ranger Regiment last June.

The allegations included:

A risqué version of the Newlywed Game. Numerous witnesses stated that they thought the questions were inappropriate or made them uncomfortable.
Inappropriate costumes worn to a hail and farewell at Fort Benning, including a pantless, shoeless character from “Risky Business.”
A game of beer pong at a hail and farewell event.
A tandem jump with a female civilian during military freefall training at DeLand, Florida, which violated a U.S. Special Operations Command directive that calls for “no mixing of civilian and military jumpers during the jump operation.”
Free passes to NASCAR events, violating Defense Department rules about receiving unsolicited gifts.
Work trips where the accommodations on post or at a hotel that fell within the maximum lodging rates were bypassed for overpriced hotel bills.

Vanek submitted a request for consideration to the commanding general of USASOC in hopes of removing the reprimand from his record, officials said.

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