Posted on Dec 21, 2015
Are we making real progress in our fight to eliminate sexual assaults in the military?
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"In the war against sexual assault, the Army keeps shooting itself in the foot."
Annual cases reported to the Defense Department have more than doubled since 2007. Pentagon officials say troops are now more likely to file reports because they have greater trust in the military to investigate complaints and protect victims.
According to Pentagon officials, the increase is actually a sign of progress. They say troops are more likely to report assaults than in the past because they have more faith in the military to properly investigate such crimes.
That assertion, however, has been undercut by a rash of scandals.
Now, we knew, when we started down this road in 2009/2010, that before we solved this, reports would increase dramatically, because we knew sexual assaults are historically dramatically under-reported.
That said, are we making progress? Real progress? This article leads us to believe otherwise.
Frustrating, to say the least.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2015/12/19/in-the-war-against-sexual-assault-the-army-keeps-shooting-itself-in-the-foot/?hpid=hp_hp-cards_no-name:homepage/card
Annual cases reported to the Defense Department have more than doubled since 2007. Pentagon officials say troops are now more likely to file reports because they have greater trust in the military to investigate complaints and protect victims.
According to Pentagon officials, the increase is actually a sign of progress. They say troops are more likely to report assaults than in the past because they have more faith in the military to properly investigate such crimes.
That assertion, however, has been undercut by a rash of scandals.
Now, we knew, when we started down this road in 2009/2010, that before we solved this, reports would increase dramatically, because we knew sexual assaults are historically dramatically under-reported.
That said, are we making progress? Real progress? This article leads us to believe otherwise.
Frustrating, to say the least.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2015/12/19/in-the-war-against-sexual-assault-the-army-keeps-shooting-itself-in-the-foot/?hpid=hp_hp-cards_no-name:homepage/card
Sexual Assault
Women in the Military
Equal Opportunity (EO)
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 24
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At the company level, I know that certain things I have put in place has made a difference. I don't think I would have had an assault in my ranks (who does?), but I do think that I've mitigated the risk some.
1. We are a Family. Do not mess with your Family.
2. It is not her honor or his honor at stake, it is our honor at stake. Every one of us is tarnished when something like this happens.
3. If you hear talk veering towards the unprofessional. Fix it. Right there, right now. I HAVE YOUR BACK if you need to do this. Unquestionably.
4. Alcohol at events is not prohibited, because you are not children. But the environment will have control measures, to mitigate mistakes and regrets.
I think we all do what we can, sir. This is not the center of my universe, but I know very well just how destructive sexual assault and harassment is to a unit's cohesion and ability to accomplish it's mission.
1. We are a Family. Do not mess with your Family.
2. It is not her honor or his honor at stake, it is our honor at stake. Every one of us is tarnished when something like this happens.
3. If you hear talk veering towards the unprofessional. Fix it. Right there, right now. I HAVE YOUR BACK if you need to do this. Unquestionably.
4. Alcohol at events is not prohibited, because you are not children. But the environment will have control measures, to mitigate mistakes and regrets.
I think we all do what we can, sir. This is not the center of my universe, but I know very well just how destructive sexual assault and harassment is to a unit's cohesion and ability to accomplish it's mission.
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1SG (Join to see)
What do you mean by "gray area", 1LT (Join to see)? I think I follow, but I want to be sure I understand.
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SPC (Join to see)
From my non-polital view or trying to give the right answer: Yes, any and every thing helps. However, what the Army does not want to hear is this problem will continue if the root of it is not delt with. What time do most of these sexual assaults happen? Alcohol and sexual depravity is a large factor. What type of activities or time resolutions could be put in place. Most places at Fort Hood are closed by 2030. Why do not more bases have long hour activities for soldiers. Safe van rides home and a barracks watch, something like neighborhood watch. The problem is not really being tackled, were just putting a bandade on it. Soldiers need more to do late hours, especially on the weekends.
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CW2 (Join to see)
I completely agree 1SG. I've always said every sexual assault started with sexual harassment.
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LTC (Join to see)
Great response TOP. I think though the translation up the chain turns into how does this affect my career if I don't do or don't do anything.
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It starts with our leaders. Leaders must continue to take a zero tolerance stand on sexual harassment and sexual assault.
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Maj (Join to see)
Yes, what exactly is a 2LT (P)? A candidate at OCS? As I always say, for instance, to MAJ(P): come here, CPT...
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1LT (Join to see)
No one ever said this was an easy job and I've been an O1 for over a year now :) its like staying in a holiday inn i suppose with respect to the statements i bring forth except for my civilian and enlisted experience, you could easily misinterrupt my comments as coming from someone with little to no experience however that is not the case here.
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1LT (Join to see)
Why would rally point have that info and doesn't O2 more or less happen unless you really go sideways?
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This isn't a training issue, it 's a parenting issue. If a person, after 18 years of parenting, doesn't know sexual assault is wrong, doesn't know right from wrong, then their parents failed to instill both empathy and common sense. There is nothing any training, program, Powerpoint, vignette, or NCO can do to fix that. In the little time we have them, we can't fix 18 years of bad parenting.
The only thing you can do is ensure you recruit only the highest caliber personnel. The kind of people to whom sexual misconduct is inconceivable in the first place. So long as we keep accepting sub par people in, we will always have a problem.
The only thing you can do is ensure you recruit only the highest caliber personnel. The kind of people to whom sexual misconduct is inconceivable in the first place. So long as we keep accepting sub par people in, we will always have a problem.
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