Posted on May 14, 2015
Anonymous letter to the SARC about the SAPR program. Your thoughts?
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A take on the SAPR program from an anonymous female airman. Keeping it civilized and professional since this subject is touchy but conversations need to be had on it or the Services wouldn't push it. Here is the link to the article.
http://www.jqpublicblog.com/one-airmans-view-open-letter-to-the-sarc/
http://www.jqpublicblog.com/one-airmans-view-open-letter-to-the-sarc/
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 8
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Honestly I get the anger.
I use this phrase way too often. "The vast majority" of us are professionals. The Vast majority of us don't need this training at all, let alone periodically, regardless of what that period is.
If you need to be told that Sexual Assault, Abuse, Harassment, is wrong, Unacceptable, etc, you're just a bad human being, and no amount of "training" is going to fix that.
Now, I get that the definitions evolve, and people might need a quick refresher. I get that people may need to be trained on what "professional work environment" means, but that is an overarching concept above and beyond any of the Sexual X programs.
The issue as I see it, is we are effectively punishing everyone for the actions of a few, which we can't stop anyways. No amount of training is going to fix this issue. You can't fix rape. You can't fix sexual assault. You "might" be able to adjust sexual harassment statistics, though I personally think drawing attention to it is doing just as much harm as good.
I use this phrase way too often. "The vast majority" of us are professionals. The Vast majority of us don't need this training at all, let alone periodically, regardless of what that period is.
If you need to be told that Sexual Assault, Abuse, Harassment, is wrong, Unacceptable, etc, you're just a bad human being, and no amount of "training" is going to fix that.
Now, I get that the definitions evolve, and people might need a quick refresher. I get that people may need to be trained on what "professional work environment" means, but that is an overarching concept above and beyond any of the Sexual X programs.
The issue as I see it, is we are effectively punishing everyone for the actions of a few, which we can't stop anyways. No amount of training is going to fix this issue. You can't fix rape. You can't fix sexual assault. You "might" be able to adjust sexual harassment statistics, though I personally think drawing attention to it is doing just as much harm as good.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
SFC William Farrell You misunderstand. These programs are Proactive. Your suggestion is Reactive. As I said, you can't "fix" it. We absolutely should destroy anyone who commits these acts. That isn't debatable. But a Proactive approach will never correct (fix) the issue.
Making people sit in a class and tell them why this is wrong doesn't help. It just wastes time. If they don't know it's wrong by the time we get them, they will never know.
Think about it like we would any other crime. Adding more cops doesn't lower crime. They're reactive. They don't actually stop crime, they RESPOND to crime. Sure their presence "might" DETER crime to an extent, but the vast majority of crime doesn't happen because it wouldn't happen anyways. Most people are inherently good or at least ambivalent.
Making people sit in a class and tell them why this is wrong doesn't help. It just wastes time. If they don't know it's wrong by the time we get them, they will never know.
Think about it like we would any other crime. Adding more cops doesn't lower crime. They're reactive. They don't actually stop crime, they RESPOND to crime. Sure their presence "might" DETER crime to an extent, but the vast majority of crime doesn't happen because it wouldn't happen anyways. Most people are inherently good or at least ambivalent.
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SFC William Farrell
Sgt Kennedy,
You can fix rape and sexual assault in the military by prosecuting vigorously and that is where I disagreed with you. The military has allowed this horrible crime to perpetuate itself by sweeping it under the rug as it has done for far too many years.
I recently retired from Naval Station Newport and when we had the Sexual Assault and Prevention kickoff weeks, its really annoyed me as I felt there wouldn't be a need for it if the military prosecuted. You are right about anyone who thinks it is OK, they are just bad human being and should be treated as such.
You can fix rape and sexual assault in the military by prosecuting vigorously and that is where I disagreed with you. The military has allowed this horrible crime to perpetuate itself by sweeping it under the rug as it has done for far too many years.
I recently retired from Naval Station Newport and when we had the Sexual Assault and Prevention kickoff weeks, its really annoyed me as I felt there wouldn't be a need for it if the military prosecuted. You are right about anyone who thinks it is OK, they are just bad human being and should be treated as such.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
I don't disagree on that point. My point is that Training isn't going to fix the issue. That's what I meant above. That's a Proactive approach to a problem that can ONLY be dealt with Reactively, as you said, via vigorously prosecuting offenders. On that, we are in 100% concurrence.
My issue is one of approach. Teaching people not to rape is assinine and unnecessary. It's like teaching people not to murder. We don't have periodic classes about why it's wrong to stab/shoot/strangle our fellow brothers in arms because that would be stupid.
You can't Fix that through training. That was my point.
The Prevention aspect of SHARP is a lofty goal which is ill conceived when applied to violent crime of any sort.
My issue is one of approach. Teaching people not to rape is assinine and unnecessary. It's like teaching people not to murder. We don't have periodic classes about why it's wrong to stab/shoot/strangle our fellow brothers in arms because that would be stupid.
You can't Fix that through training. That was my point.
The Prevention aspect of SHARP is a lofty goal which is ill conceived when applied to violent crime of any sort.
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SFC William Farrell
You are right Sgt Kennedy. The military should not have to do what Mommy and Daddy forgot to do, raise their children with morals!
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I wouldn't mind if this training was yearly and focused on contact information, reporting constructs, and facts, but that hasn't been my experience. In 2012, between the trainings held for senior leadership, junior officers, and all-hands, I had 12 SAPR briefs - roughly 90 minutes each - in a 9 week period. The SARC made it very clear each time that every man was a potential rapist, and every woman was a saint. If you want someone to tune you out and be disgusted with the mere sight of you, that's the way to do it.
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LCDR (Join to see)
We were told repeatedly that if you go to a bar with a woman and have a few drinks, then engage in consensual sex, the woman has the right to claim rape later because she was under the influence. When a male pointed out, "So was the male in that scenario; and you said it was a date. I've had drinks on dates before, it's not uncommon." "It doesn't matter. See? That's why we do this training. You didn't even know you could be charged."
I'm quite certain every person in that room immediately got angry and tuned out. Turns out, according to that particular individual, anybody who has drinks with a date, then has sex, is a rapist. My wife would be shocked to know.
I'm quite certain every person in that room immediately got angry and tuned out. Turns out, according to that particular individual, anybody who has drinks with a date, then has sex, is a rapist. My wife would be shocked to know.
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I have to agree with MAJ Carl Ballinger this a double edged sword.
I would not even know how to even start to help but I do agree with what the airman was saying
I would not even know how to even start to help but I do agree with what the airman was saying
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