Five Marines have been administratively punished in connection with the investigations into the Marines United Facebook group, said Corps spokesman Maj. Clark Carpenter.
Military investigators are looking into whether troops and veterans who were members of the group shared nude photos of women or harassed some of the women shown in the pictures. To date, no Marines have been court-martialed.
The five Marines received nonjudicial punishment, or a Page 11 entry in their permanent records, Carpenter said on Friday. None was referred to a summary court-martial.
They were among more than 30 Marines identified by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service for online misconduct that did not constitute felony crimes. The remaining Marines could face courts-martial if their commanders decide to discipline them.
No information was available Friday about the status of their cases.
Two other Marines with 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines at Camp Pendleton, California, received nonjudicial punishment on April 5 after insulting one of their senior enlisted leaders while taking part in an online conversation about women. Each was demoted by one pay grade, issued 45 days of military restriction and 45 days of punitive duties, said their battalion commander, Lt. Col. Warren Cook.
Meanwhile, NCIS has identified 16 suspects who may have committed felony-related crimes related to the nude photo sharing scandal, NCIS spokesman Ed Buice said on Friday. Those suspects are nine active-duty Marines, two Reserve Marines, three active-duty sailors, one Reserve sailor and one civilian.
