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I asked a former female Marine if she had experienced an overwhelming amount of sexual harassment/assault while she served in the Corps. To my extreme surprise this was her response (paraphrased of course):
No. No, not at all. One time I was in the barracks and a guy in my unit snuck into my room and tried forcing himself on me. I started screaming and within a few seconds this whole crowd of Marines came barging into my room and carried him off. They’re my brothers, why would they let anyone hurt me?
Now THAT is honor and loyalty.
This brought tears to my eyes for two reasons.
Reason One: I was so overwhelmed and happy these Marines heard a fellow Marine in trouble and they came running to her rescue. There was no hesitation, no passive intervention and no second thoughts. That's just mind-blowing to me.
Reason Two: My mind was blown because very rarely has a male Soldier stood up for me like that. Matter of fact, I rarely hear any male Soldiers stand up for women like that.
I was raised where men watch their mouths around women, men hold open doors for ladies, and men take out the trash while women wash the dishes. I understand and learn more every day how the military is far from being the Southern paradise where knights in shining armor rescue damsels in distress. I also understand some women don’t like being treated that way. Roger, tracking.
Maybe those Marines who busted in her room didn’t care that she was a woman, they just heard one of their fellow Marines in trouble. Regardless of why, their actions and her response portrayed a very different world from what I know in the Army and that saddens me.
Is it sexist for me to expect male Soldiers to stand up for female Soldiers? Maybe so.
Is it too much to ask for Soldiers to stand up for Soldiers, regardless of gender? I don't think so.
No. No, not at all. One time I was in the barracks and a guy in my unit snuck into my room and tried forcing himself on me. I started screaming and within a few seconds this whole crowd of Marines came barging into my room and carried him off. They’re my brothers, why would they let anyone hurt me?
Now THAT is honor and loyalty.
This brought tears to my eyes for two reasons.
Reason One: I was so overwhelmed and happy these Marines heard a fellow Marine in trouble and they came running to her rescue. There was no hesitation, no passive intervention and no second thoughts. That's just mind-blowing to me.
Reason Two: My mind was blown because very rarely has a male Soldier stood up for me like that. Matter of fact, I rarely hear any male Soldiers stand up for women like that.
I was raised where men watch their mouths around women, men hold open doors for ladies, and men take out the trash while women wash the dishes. I understand and learn more every day how the military is far from being the Southern paradise where knights in shining armor rescue damsels in distress. I also understand some women don’t like being treated that way. Roger, tracking.
Maybe those Marines who busted in her room didn’t care that she was a woman, they just heard one of their fellow Marines in trouble. Regardless of why, their actions and her response portrayed a very different world from what I know in the Army and that saddens me.
Is it sexist for me to expect male Soldiers to stand up for female Soldiers? Maybe so.
Is it too much to ask for Soldiers to stand up for Soldiers, regardless of gender? I don't think so.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual Assault
Gender
Women in the Military
Command Post
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 197
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I don't understand women of the Marine Corp if you are so afraid of sexual harassment then why in the hell do you want to join the infantry with all male marines? What are you trying to prove? On field ops and also on deployments things get out of hand fast so again why do you want to put yourselves in that position?
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SSG V. Michelle Woods
I don't know about Marine women but female Army soldiers are definitely not the ones pushing to be in combat arms. We want equal opportunity. For example, that means if men have the opportunity to go to Air Assault school, we also want the opportunity. If men have the opportunity to go see a doctor, we want the opportunity as well. Politics complicate this entire thing.
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LCpl Brandon Mills
Yes I'm for equality as well women need know how to defend themselves just as much as the men do, because you need what might happen out there in those war zones, I like what the Marine Corp is doing with the female engagement teams.
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LCpl Brandon Mills
Yes I am a grunt basic rifleman and a mortar man and your correct being a 03 consist of way more than just squeezing a trigger.
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When I was stationed in Wachenheim, GE I remember soldiers doing things like this for the female soldiers. However, I got out of the Army in 04, and then returned in 07, and I'm not sure if it was the drop in standard of recruits because of the Army's desperate need for soldiers to send to combat, but it wasn't like this anymore.
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In the corps it has always been simple. As Marines we take care of our own, race or gender doesn't matter. "Marines take care of Marines" it's that simple
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SSG Woods,
My thought is that it is not about men and women. It is about mentoring Soldiers, instilling pride in one's unit, ownership of responsibility, "esprit de corps". These words build us as warriors in this military society. When I came back in the Army I was in a unit that preached all these things. When we deployed, we were all family. We didn't view the female Soldiers as that. But, as they were to be treated fellow Soldiers. We would've given our life them as they would've for us. We weren't the poster children. We were all just Soldier brothers and sister in arms. Soldiers are to protect Soldiers and that's what I hope you find
My thought is that it is not about men and women. It is about mentoring Soldiers, instilling pride in one's unit, ownership of responsibility, "esprit de corps". These words build us as warriors in this military society. When I came back in the Army I was in a unit that preached all these things. When we deployed, we were all family. We didn't view the female Soldiers as that. But, as they were to be treated fellow Soldiers. We would've given our life them as they would've for us. We weren't the poster children. We were all just Soldier brothers and sister in arms. Soldiers are to protect Soldiers and that's what I hope you find
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As someone who spent almost 14 years in the Marines I can tell you this. There was a time when we did say female Marine or WM (woman Marine). Standards for women were so different than ours. Then the commandant said that the pt standards are going to be identical except pull ups. Once that happened the mentality changed. As an infantry Man i didn't work with women often but when they were around I noticed the change. The big difference is you always hear you have to EARN the title Marine. Now that I am in the Army I can see how the Army could benefit from the same thing. Earn the right to be called a soldier, don't take it lightly. I am proud to say I am a Marine and I always will be. I will continue to serve the Army as honorably as I did the Marines because I would not want to dishonor the corps by my actions. They still call me Marine here and I accept that proudly. I will protect my fellow soldiers the same way I will protect my fellow Marines because what I have learned is that we are all brothers and sisters in arms
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It a human nature. You heard somebody screaming for help. Two things going to happen. You investigate and act upon. As for male soldiers standing up for female soldiers? Well their stories haven't being tell yet. It out there, keeping low profile.
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Very insightful, Ms. Woods. It does seem that the days of courtesies, gestures, politeness and manners have passed us by, and I've been guilty of it myself. That said, sometimes a good ass-chewing is good for both the facilitator and the recipient.
That aside, though, your points are well taken. All service members, regardless of branch of service, background or upbringing should be loyal to their comrades, almost to a fault. That's what unit cohesion's all about.
That aside, though, your points are well taken. All service members, regardless of branch of service, background or upbringing should be loyal to their comrades, almost to a fault. That's what unit cohesion's all about.
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I am from an older generation of soldiers. I also had the pleasure of being assigned to units with higher expectations of their Troops/Soldiers where there was 0 tolerance for the male, female, gay, straight drama that seems to be running crazy in many of the commands. I have personally intervened in at least 3 incidences where one of my soldiers was being attacked/threatened, one was a male soldier, the other were female. It did not go well for the assailants, only once did one want to press charges on me after which would have made no difference on my actions. I have always fell back to the adage that we were all Green regardless of our plumbing or skin color, we were green, same team Green! My wife, on the other hand, served in predominately Support units (MI, Maint.) and experienced quite a bit of harassment. At times, I actually thought we served in a totally different Army at the same time. I met her after she left the military. My point is, if you treat a soldier like a soldier, regardless of the physical make up, that is what you will get. And , it starts with the command.
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The issue is about culture of the branch of service. This culture begins with the officers. The marines have a much higher turnover rate among officers so it is easier for their service to reflect the directives from the chain of command. You see this with acceptance of gays too. Where the first openly gay couple attended the marine ball and marines were told not only will you tolerate you will greet and be courtesy too.
Meanwhile a branch of service that will remain nameless had its officer in charge of preventing sexual assault arrested for sexual assault.
Meanwhile a branch of service that will remain nameless had its officer in charge of preventing sexual assault arrested for sexual assault.
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Wouldn't the answer have been yes, beacause "a guy in my unit snuck into my room and tried forcing himself on me".
I am pleased that nothing happened and that her fellow Marines rescued her, but having that incident is obviously an example of the issue.
Many people in her situation would not have screamed and would not have known what to do. That would have made this a whole different situation.
I am pleased that nothing happened and that her fellow Marines rescued her, but having that incident is obviously an example of the issue.
Many people in her situation would not have screamed and would not have known what to do. That would have made this a whole different situation.
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SGT Dannie T. McLaughlin
No Lt, I think what she is saying with is it was not what it could have been because it was Stop.
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CPT (Join to see)
I fully understand the question, and what she was implying, but that doesnt mean she hadn't experienced sexual assault.
The thinking of "it was not what it could have been because it was stopped" is completely wrong and damaging. And the fact that she needed to say stop puts the onus on the victim and is wrong.
So i am not sure why you voted me down... but that's okay.
The thinking of "it was not what it could have been because it was stopped" is completely wrong and damaging. And the fact that she needed to say stop puts the onus on the victim and is wrong.
So i am not sure why you voted me down... but that's okay.
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