Sexual Assault issues in the Military

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 08:49:22 -0400

Every time I turn around there is a new memorandum coming
down from the CSA or SMA that is talking about the issues we are having in the
military with sexual assault. So the
Army’s answer is let us have another SHARP class in order to train Soldiers and
raise awareness. I am not saying that
these classes are pointless but they are definitely redudant. A basic training private gets a SHARP class
at reception, and then another class in BCT and then another class in AIT. Basically they get three classes in the first
4 months in the Army. At some point
Soldiers stop paying attention and the class goes in one ear and out the other. So what is the fix? The Hon. Chuck Hagle says
that there is an alarming rise of reported sexual assualts in the Army and that
we need to get a handle on this epidemic.
What I am curious about are we getting our statistics from. I agree that one rape is too many. But who is to say that sexual assaults statistics
are worse this year from last year? Is
it possible that reportings are going up not because the number of assualts are
going up but because the Soldiers are putting more faith in the system and
coming forward?

Response by SSG Zachery Mitchell made Mar 23 at 2014 9:05 AM

SSG Zachery Mitchell — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 09:05:05 -0400

SFC Winkler,

I agree with you, the training is becoming redundant which leads to less Soldiers paying attention and not getting the actual affect of the training they are receiving. I wish there was a way to change it up so it's not the exact same training every month or change the menotiny of the training. Something a little more interesting to catch the Soldiers' attention to keep their interest. My unit does SHARP every quarter and it always seems to be the exact same class as the quarter before.

I don't feel that sexual assaults are going up, but I do feel the reporting of incidents is going up. If anything sexual assaults are going down, but now that Soldiers are more educated on the reporting process than years past, they are more confident and comfortable with reporting the incidents. I feel that they are more educated so therefore they are more trusting in the system to fix/resolve their complaints.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2014 5:36 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 17:36:23 -0400

I say don't make the female soldier a "unicorn" for starters. By this I mean, integrate females and don't alienate them or put them on a pedestal. Treat them like soldiers and not some forbidden fruit that we all know tastes so good. Excuse my metaphors but it is easier explained as such. We can see examples in other countries as well. We also as an American people should stop making sex so taboo. In European nations, that are more sexually integrated, sex is merely an act between two people. (Or more). Without making this comical, I conclude that we need integration without segregation and become more forward thinking with sexuality.

Response by MSG Jose Colon made Apr 19 at 2014 8:28 PM

MSG Jose Colon — Sat, 19 Apr 2014 20:28:38 -0400

One of the goals of the SHARP Program was to increase propensity to report, since sexual assault is one of the most under reported crimes in society. Be it because of fear of reprisals, or fear of the offender and his cronies, or just because they do not think they were assaulted, or believe that it was their fault, seeing it, around 75% of those assaulted don't report.

When those new reports are from situations that happened months or years back, that tells us that propensity to report is improving and that is not a bad thing.

When you have an illness, you want to discover it and take care of it.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 21 at 2014 9:36 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 21:36:20 -0500

This has been in the forefront since the drawn downs from Afghanistan and Iraq. But it goes wait back into the 80s.

I am seeing a lot of women who are reporting sexual harassment. How many males have came forward? This isn't just one sided. Men are not the only who are committing these offenses. What male will report that he's been harassed and you see it in the news? All we see is women reporting, that's why I think this is bias and sexiest.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 4 at 2014 6:45 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 06:45:38 -0500

We have lots of reporting on this now. How do we prevent it?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 10 at 2014 4:26 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 16:26:16 -0500

I don't know how much impact this has, but part of the inflation could be due to what is considered sexual assault. Stuff that most us grew up with (even if we thought it was stupid) like nut tapping is considered sexual assault even if it isn't of a sexual nature. This question has stumped my chain of command: if a woman is being assaulted and she attacks the man's genitals, is she guilty of sexual assault. It's amazing how changing the gender on a scenario automatically changes it.

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made Dec 10 at 2014 4:29 PM

COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 16:29:29 -0500

If I were CSA for a day, one thing I would implement would be a more "whole of the military" solution to the problem of sexual assault in the military. My perception right now is that senior military leaders see this as a discipline and training issue that we use mainly a training solution for. Sexual assault is an issue for American society writ large and in American institutions of higher education so it should be no surprise that the military is seeing the same issue. The "whole of the military" program I would implement would include:
- Accessions. Set the bar and do not lower it even in times of low supply and high demand. Develop screening indicators for sexual predators and do not let them in the military in the first place.
- Training. Continue the current training program to educate and inform Soldiers on the expected Army culture so that all understand the standard and what right looks like.
- Discipline. Enforce standards of conduct and discipline at all levels, by all Soldiers and leaders. Fire leaders who do not enforce discipline. Fire Soldiers who fail to meet the standard of conduct.
- UCMJ. Give due process to victims and accused but, if/when convicted, administer UCMJ quickly, publicly, and harshly for all levels (i.e. in a national newspaper for a senior officer or NCO).
- Retirement. Do not let senior leaders retire in lieu of court martial. Seniors will think twice if a retirement or reduced retirement is on the table.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2015 8:31 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 06 Feb 2015 20:31:46 -0500

One of the big reasons for a rise is what defines sexual assault these days. Back when we were Joes, nut tapping and ass slapping was fairly common place(always hated nut tapping). Now any form of locker room shenanigans is considered sexual assault.

Response by MSG Floyd Williams made Apr 20 at 2015 1:26 PM

MSG Floyd Williams — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 13:26:06 -0400

http://www.health.mil/News/Articles/2015/04/15/Marine-Corps-Promotes-Sexual-Assautl-Awarenes-and-Prevention-Month