Army investigating alleged 'Racial Thursdays' at unit based in Alaska

FORT WAINWRIGHT, AK (KTRK) -- The Army is looking into allegations of soldiers being given a free pass to use racial slurs against each other known as "Racial Thursdays."

According to a member of the unit who spoke to Army Times, the soldiers belong to 2nd Platoon, C Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment. The battalion belongs to the 25th Infantry Division's 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team at Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

The soldier, a staff sergeant who asked to remain anonymous, said he wanted to make the issue known because the unit "has a bad habit of sweeping things under the rug."

"When I first got to my unit, someone said we should do 'Racial Thursdays' because it's been a tradition. It's something they made up where you can say any racist remark you want without any consequences."

The soldier added, "It's degrading to the soldiers. We've had soldiers almost fight over the crap that's going on here."

The Army told ABC News it is investigating and will "take action as necessary."

Lt. Col. Alan Brown, a spokesman for the command, said "The command is extremely sensitive to any allegations that involve equal opportunity or discrimination and will investigate every allegation."