Hazing in Argentina

    Michael Verón, 26 years of age, became a victim of a "welcome" ritual on his military base in the province of Misiones in Argentina, where he became a paraplegic and lost consciousness for 21 days.  The event occurred on June 8, 1922, when the victim, who suffered a serious, irreversible, spinal cord injury after having been subjected to abusive and humiliating practices known as the "promotion baptism," could no longer feel his extremities or move.  The "baptism" involved the victim taking on the expense of making a barbecue for everyone, and then forcing him to drink too much alcohol and food, and then to fling himself repeatedly into a swimming pool with very little water.

In this context, Verón, when speaking in public, said that he could no longer remember whether he fell into the pool, or was pushed or whether they threw him into it.  His injuries occurred in the swimming pool when he was obliged to throw himself into the pool for the third time.  Each activity was ordered as part of the ritual. He said that there has to be a final stop to these brutal rituals within the military.

A total of 25 members of the base were submitted to the Disciplinary Council of the Army. The investigation ended with 15 members of the military getting light sanctions, another 7 received 60 days  arrest and 4 were removed from their posts, having been held to have principal responsibility for the ritual.

A similar case occurred with the death of Matías Chirino (22) on June 18, 2025.  He died of bronchial aspiration during a similar ritual and the members of the military responsible were tried for homicide.  The federal court has also taken up the case of Verón, but since he is not dead those responsible are being tried for responsibility for the victim's "serious injuries."  The military has assumed charge of his medical care and four years later he is still unable to move or feel his legs.