Posted on Dec 27, 2014
ARCOM for calling out inappropriate use in Social Media. Appropriate or not?
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Not worthy of the award, she did her job, that's it. Now, here's the devil's advocate questions, does her actions set a precedence? Does this open the door for any service member to make reports via email and send said email to the SHARP director jumping everyones chain of command? I believe she initially did the right thing by reaching out to them to do an on the spot correction, but I also think she crossed the line by using the language she chose, by meeting them equally in calling them idiots, and then by goading them into arguing back some more.
1SG Moerk didn't notify the 1SG's of the other commands; she jumped her entire chain of command and their's.(by her own admission) If a private were to jump the chain of command to the CSM, the private would've been destroyed for not following the chain of command properly. Was there a fear that the other commands would brush this under the rug? Not only is that Soldier's unit under the microscope, every unit all the way to the top is now. Some high ranking officer is probably asking their leadership "how screwed are we and how f***ed up are we". Every SHARP/UVA representative is going to called to the mat trying to find out what the hell just happened. Its already a media storm. I'll bet every service branch is squirming right now, that all it takes is some email sent to the very top, saying something is wrong in some unit in regards to SHARP. Ok perhaps it's a bit of a stretch, but could it be feasible?
SAPR really kicked in 2004 and now in 2014, and we've made significant changes in the attitudes and behaviors regarding sexual harassment/assault, it's been 10 years if using that timeline. However, SHARP is trying to correct a behavior that is so immersed itself in military culture that we're a long way changing this behavior. The behavior we need to change are the people that think this is harmless.
1SG Moerk didn't notify the 1SG's of the other commands; she jumped her entire chain of command and their's.(by her own admission) If a private were to jump the chain of command to the CSM, the private would've been destroyed for not following the chain of command properly. Was there a fear that the other commands would brush this under the rug? Not only is that Soldier's unit under the microscope, every unit all the way to the top is now. Some high ranking officer is probably asking their leadership "how screwed are we and how f***ed up are we". Every SHARP/UVA representative is going to called to the mat trying to find out what the hell just happened. Its already a media storm. I'll bet every service branch is squirming right now, that all it takes is some email sent to the very top, saying something is wrong in some unit in regards to SHARP. Ok perhaps it's a bit of a stretch, but could it be feasible?
SAPR really kicked in 2004 and now in 2014, and we've made significant changes in the attitudes and behaviors regarding sexual harassment/assault, it's been 10 years if using that timeline. However, SHARP is trying to correct a behavior that is so immersed itself in military culture that we're a long way changing this behavior. The behavior we need to change are the people that think this is harmless.
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SSG (Join to see)
Did a little research and found that any soldier who wishes to do so can report a complaint involving sexual harassment or sexual battery to the personnel overseeing the SHARP program without *any* regard to chain of command. The reason that this policy appears to have been implemented is because when US DOD examined the high incidence of sexual harassment and rape within its ranks, they found that much of it went under-reported or unreported.
Therefore, the 1SG had a *perfect legal right* under UCMJ to copy the online materials and send them off to SHARP without regard to chain of command. That is one of two responses that may be made at the discretion of the *victim* of sexual harassment or rape. Her choice, in other words.
It flies in the face of traditional decorum but that is the DOD's policy regarding the matter. It appears as though the Pentagon is currently involved in a full court press against sexual harassment and sexual battery... and that's why they created the SHARP program to begin with.
If I am wrong in this please tell me, if I need to make any corrections, I have no problem admitting I am wrong.
Therefore, the 1SG had a *perfect legal right* under UCMJ to copy the online materials and send them off to SHARP without regard to chain of command. That is one of two responses that may be made at the discretion of the *victim* of sexual harassment or rape. Her choice, in other words.
It flies in the face of traditional decorum but that is the DOD's policy regarding the matter. It appears as though the Pentagon is currently involved in a full court press against sexual harassment and sexual battery... and that's why they created the SHARP program to begin with.
If I am wrong in this please tell me, if I need to make any corrections, I have no problem admitting I am wrong.
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From a 3-star general, no less! Wow, I guess if you live long enough you get to see everything.
Now, given she's in intel, she SHOULD be monitoring her people's blogs for possible OPSEC violations and that kind of thing. No problem with that. That's part of her job as it is for any senior NCO.
Do either of those things, in and of themselves, warrant or constitute the level of recognition inherent in an ACM? No way.
Now, given she's in intel, she SHOULD be monitoring her people's blogs for possible OPSEC violations and that kind of thing. No problem with that. That's part of her job as it is for any senior NCO.
Do either of those things, in and of themselves, warrant or constitute the level of recognition inherent in an ACM? No way.
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I dislike that they are calling what she did "Trolling" because being a troll really means pointlessly harassing someone on the internet. The example from Urban Dictionary:
Guy: "I just found the coolest ninja pencil in existence."
Troll: "I just found the dumbest thread in existence."
I don't think she should have been given an award of any kind, but I do think the situation should be publicized to generate online awareness.
That said, two things:
1) I really, really, really do not want this to become part of my job. I do not "friend" my Soldiers and I do not want to be ordered to patrol their online personas.
2) The point here is not to "shut up" objectionable speech or force it underground by having Soldiers create fake profiles, block access to their accounts, etc. It's to have a dialog. If Soldiers feel like they cannot talk about their racist, sexist, etc opinions, they will probably always hold them. Talking about them should not be taboo.
And to again clarify, this is NOT a free speech issue because they did it in uniform. That is the violation, not necessarily what they did or said. What they did or said is a point for discussion with their leadership. What they wore makes it UCMJ actionable.
Guy: "I just found the coolest ninja pencil in existence."
Troll: "I just found the dumbest thread in existence."
I don't think she should have been given an award of any kind, but I do think the situation should be publicized to generate online awareness.
That said, two things:
1) I really, really, really do not want this to become part of my job. I do not "friend" my Soldiers and I do not want to be ordered to patrol their online personas.
2) The point here is not to "shut up" objectionable speech or force it underground by having Soldiers create fake profiles, block access to their accounts, etc. It's to have a dialog. If Soldiers feel like they cannot talk about their racist, sexist, etc opinions, they will probably always hold them. Talking about them should not be taboo.
And to again clarify, this is NOT a free speech issue because they did it in uniform. That is the violation, not necessarily what they did or said. What they did or said is a point for discussion with their leadership. What they wore makes it UCMJ actionable.
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CSM (Join to see)
I cannot agree more with CPT Ann Wolfer. I never accepted a friend request on Facebook from any subordinates because I did not want them to feel I was looking over their shoulder on social media. In fact. my Facebook was military free so I never had to worry about any cross contamination of who was friends with who and who could see what - made life a lot easier. I also didn't have to worry about monitoring what my subordinates were saying either.
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SSgt (Join to see)
CPT (Join to see) No side argument here. The bottom-line is we are soft because we think soft. SSG (Join to see) PV2 (Join to see) PO2 Ed C.
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SFC (Join to see)
By the way. Vikings is one of the greatest shows ever to hit TV. I want to be in Ragnar's army. They have beards.
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oh wait, its about SHARP. I don't think that's trolling is it? its seeing something stupid and calling it out.
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I'm sorry since when do we give out specific achievement medals for doing your job? She's a First Sgt, so she should correct folks when she see's them doing something wrong.
If anything she does look a little sheepish receiving the medal, but her comments in the articles isn't very flattering to a SNCO.
If anything she does look a little sheepish receiving the medal, but her comments in the articles isn't very flattering to a SNCO.
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I agree with a very large majority here...Not only NO...but hell f#-%& NO. If that NCO spent that much time on the clock... My first question is...how do you plan to make up that. Time back to Uncle Sam? Second....I would drag her commander and her to my office and chomp a piece of their asses off for abusing govt time.
A pat on the back... With great initiative....extremely BAD judgment!
A pat on the back... With great initiative....extremely BAD judgment!
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No... if that's the route we're going to go and we're going to start giving out ARCOM's for someone doing their job, the medal will lose all impact completely. Maybe I should receive an ARCOM for doing a good job too. She is a 1SG and she did her job... it was definitely not deserving of an ARCOM.
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As I read the article I thought for sure it was a joke or a Duffel Blog satire page. This SNCO actually went searching for people in uniform to call them out for making offensive and sexist comments. "I looked them up, introduced myself and explained to them why they were stupid," and then said "look what I did" to senior leaders and got a medal? Wow!
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Would this means that CPT (Join to see) should get the Legion of Merit for the amount of trolling he does on here?? ;)
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SSgt (Join to see)
Totally PR. That is like washing one's hands after using the bathroom. Good to do but not ARCOM. lol
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