The U.S. Army is investigating allegations that soldiers on a base in Alaska were given a pass to hurl racial slurs at one another during so-called Racial Thursdays, according to Army Times.
The soldiers are members of 2nd Platoon, C Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, a member of the unit told the Times. The battalion belongs to the 25th Infantry Division's 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team at Fort Wainwright, Alaska.
"When I first got to my unit, someone said we should do 'Racial Thursdays' because it's been a tradition," a black staff sergeant, who asked to remain anonymous, told the publication. "It's something they made up where you can say any racist remark you want without any consequences. The platoon sergeant said no, but the s—t is still going on."
The staff sergeant continued, telling the Times, "It's degrading to the soldiers. We've had soldiers almost fight over the crap that's going on here." He told the Times no that one has directed any racial slurs at him because he made it clear he would not participate or put up with the practice.
U.S. Army Alaska began an inquiry into the allegations late last week, Lt. Col. Alan Brown, a spokesman for the command told the news outlet.
"An informal complaint was made through command channels, and the commander has already assigned an investigating officer and the investigation is ongoing," Brown told the Times Wednesday. "The command is extremely sensitive to any allegations that involve equal opportunity or discrimination and will investigate every allegation."
Read more at Army Times.