Air Force investigates group that bragged of drinking and womanizing

Monday, May 5, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

The probe is focusing on the Command Barstool Association, which counts 1,100 active and retired officers as members, The Detroit News reported Sunday.

"The Inspector General's office is looking to see if there was any official support of the Barstoolers on the part of the Air Force," Capt. Keri Humphrey-Clinard, an Air Force spokeswoman, told the newspaper.

The Air Force was unsure when the investigation will be completed, the News reported.

Last October, U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., asked the U.S. Department of Defense to look into the group's activities.

Details about the "Barstoolers," surfaced last year during a court-martial in Alaska. Lt. Col. Shelley Rogers was convicted of disorderly conduct and developing an inappropriate familiarity with a female subordinate. He lost his command.

Ret. Col. George Peterson, whose title is associate grand potentate of the Barstoolers, told the News he knew the military was interviewing active-duty members to learn if the group used official facilities or transportation.

Peterson said he doubts if any Barstoolers use Air Force jets to travel to Nevada for the group's annual convention.

"We go way out of our way to make sure Air Force transportation isn't used," said Peterson, a native of Center Line. "It's impossible to know for sure, but I'm as confident as I can be."

Barstoolers attend a convention each May in the desert town of Pahrump, Nev., about an hour outside Las Vegas. This year's convention begins Tuesday and ends Sunday.