The Army pulled one of its recruitment ads after learning it contained an image of a soldier who was convicted of rape, according to a statement from the Army.

The ad aired nationally on May 8 and was pulled from media outlets on May 15, Business Insider first reported.

One of the images in the recruitment commercial showed Spc. Nicholas Marcum, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted of raping a 15-year-old, according to the Alaska Dispatch News. 

"After receiving this information, we immediately directed the Army's contracted advertising agency to remove the commercial from television and all social media sites," the Army told Army Times in a statement.

Marcum was stationed at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, Alaska, when he was found guilty during a court-martial in July 2015. He was sent to the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and had his rank reduced to private, the newspaper reported. He was also ordered to forfeit his military pay and allowances.

The photo of Marcum in the recruitment ad was taken in July 2014, a year before he was convicted, according to Business Insider.

Task & Purpose reported that they found the now-deleted recruitment ad.

The Army "directed the permanent removal of the image and we have implemented measures to minimize any possible reoccurrence of a similar situation," the Army said in its statement.

Charlsy Panzino covers the Guard and Reserve, training, technology, operations and features for Army Times and Air Force Times. Email her at cpanzino@militarytimes.com.  


About Charlsy Panzino

Charlsy is a Reporter and Engagement Manager for Military Times. Email her at cpanzino@militarytimes.com.

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