In Unexpected Reversal, Army Will Retain Green Beret Who Physically Confronted Alleged Afghan Child Rapist

The U.S. Army has reversed its decision to discharge a Green Beret who confronted an Afghan police commander who allegedly abused a child.

Sgt. First Class Charles Martland (Image source: KUSA-TV)

In 2011, Sgt. First Class Charles Martland confronted the commander who reportedly had raped a young boy repeatedly and had beaten the boy's mother for attempting to save the child from the assault.

After the incident, Martland was set to be “involuntarily discharged,” but the Army has reversed course.

"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."

Kasper told TheBlaze that he and Hunter are glad Martland will be able to return to his duties.

“Representative Hunter got the call last night from the acting Army secretary, and he was elated,” Kasper said. “He thanked him for doing the right thing and for putting Charles back in the fight — which is what Charles always wanted. We've worked a lot of these types of cases as an office, and this is perhaps the most gratifying outcome of them all. The Army deserves credit here, too. The new leadership team is different than the old, and this decision is proof of that fact.”

In a statement provided to Fox News last year, Martland addressed why he decided to confront the alleged assailant, adding that the “brutal rapist” admitted he committed the crime and had “laughed it off,” dismissing the victim as “only a boy.”

“I kicked him once in his ribcage after one of the body slams,” Martland said in the statement. “I put my foot on his neck and yelled at him after one body slam, but did not kick or punch him in the face. I continued to body-slam him and throw him for 50 meters until he was outside the camp.”

An Army spokesman confirmed the decision to Fox News.

"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.