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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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That has been my experience as a male Marine in units where there were a lot of WMs. If anybody messed with any of my Marines they had better be ready. Still in contact with many of them on Facebook. Just found out one of my former troops became the first SgtMaj of a grunt unit. I cried from the pride of having known her
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An attempted sexual assault as described in this thread is very uncommon and is very easy to react to. You have compared a very obvious attempted rape to low level sexual harassment and they are very different things.
Low-level sexual harassment is much harder to address...it is like the difference between seeing a bully beat another kid and seeing a bully verbally harass another kid. More people will react to a situation that is physical, but fewer will react when the situation is secretive or subtle.
One of the best things a victim can do in a situation where they are feeling harassed is to let people know they are feeling harassed...their fellow Soldiers are more likely to help when they know for sure that there is an issue. For Soldiers who see a situation that they think might be sexual harassment (the difference being whether the comments and attention are wanted or unwanted), they can always address the behavior as "professional or unprofessional" if they are unsure as to whether it is wanted flirting or unwanted sexual harassment.
Low-level sexual harassment is much harder to address...it is like the difference between seeing a bully beat another kid and seeing a bully verbally harass another kid. More people will react to a situation that is physical, but fewer will react when the situation is secretive or subtle.
One of the best things a victim can do in a situation where they are feeling harassed is to let people know they are feeling harassed...their fellow Soldiers are more likely to help when they know for sure that there is an issue. For Soldiers who see a situation that they think might be sexual harassment (the difference being whether the comments and attention are wanted or unwanted), they can always address the behavior as "professional or unprofessional" if they are unsure as to whether it is wanted flirting or unwanted sexual harassment.
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Capt Jeff S.
1LT Nick Kidwell, Nobody can ever accuse someone of being professional so when in doubt, always err on the side of extending the proper military cusoms and courtesies -- even when addressing veterans. I guarantee, it will never work against you. Kudos to SSG V. Michelle Woods for being a professional and extending you that courtesy.
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1LT Nick Kidwell
Capt Jeff S. Well, just kinda makes me uncomfortable at times.
I know that SSG V. Michelle Woods knows I'm no longer in the service, but people on here frequently mistakenly assume I'm still in, and I'm making sure I'm not misrepresenting myself.
I know that SSG V. Michelle Woods knows I'm no longer in the service, but people on here frequently mistakenly assume I'm still in, and I'm making sure I'm not misrepresenting myself.
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SSG V. Michelle Woods
Thank you gentlemen.
I just try to address people the way I would if my momma was standing over my shoulder lol.
I just try to address people the way I would if my momma was standing over my shoulder lol.
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MSG(P) Michael Warrick
BLUF - I don't if it is because the Marines is a smaller branch and don't take just anybody unlike the Army. I know I would not hesitate to save a fellow Soldier Male or Female.
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This is an awesome story because you never hear that in the army. It starts in basic training for the Marines. Compared to Army basic training, we in the Army (make & female) are just trained and molded different from the Marines. Females Marines weren't allotted the same treatment females in the Army were alloted. Now I'm saying females soldiers can't take care of themselves but at the same time, knowing that in Army basic training there's something called being "pencil whipped" allows soldiers to be pushed through isn't much of a thought in the Marines.
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I retired in 2008 after 20 years in the Marine Corps. I was a combat engineer and women first showed up in my MOS because of an admin mistake. We treated them with the same respect shown to any other Marine and never had problems such as sexual harassment. Sometimes they couldn't lift as much weight as us but that didn't get in their way since we worked as a team. We never had any warnings, briefings, or classes on how to treat them. Since retiring and working as a DoD civilian, I see the difference today and it saddens me. As Marines, we didn't care what gender, race, or religion you were. If you were a Marine, then you were part of the family and deserved our respect! Period! We worked as a team, trained as a team, played as a team, and by God, lived as a team!
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Capt Jeff S.
The Marine Corps has an inherent responsibility to fight and win on the battlefield in the most expeditious and economical manner possible. I don't see how putting women in the infantry helps us do that. While you are a team and can make up for a woman's lack of strength, what happens when your squad is down to three people (you and two women) and you get hit and need a woman to pick you up hand carry you back to safety? It very well may beyond her capabilities and thus, I think men are simply better suited to jobs requiring physical strength and if I had my way, they wouldn't be in those MOS's. We simply don't need that distraction. Avionics, Supply, Logistics, Maintenance, Motor Transport, etc. are places where women are equally qualified and competent to do the jobs men do. But humping mortar plates, carrying heavy machine guns up and down hills, etc. These are things that they simply aren't cut out to do was well as men. While I generally welcome dissenting opinions, and you're certainly free to disagree, I don't think you're being honest with yourself if you think differently on this one.
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This is my final say. If some one sexualy assaultsa military personnel. Male or female, I feel the soldiers platoon or squad should be allowed to handle it in their way with no repercussions. That is the assaulted personnel's family. I feel they have the right too. If a person lies about that sit then they too should be dealt with by thirty brothers and sisters in arms. Responsibly I might add. It does come down to units policing their inner ranks.
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Capt Jeff S.
Speaking of policing inner ranks... This isn't a sexual assault story but it is a story involving females and I guess you could call it, "To Catch A Thief" ; )
When I was in Okinawa, the WM's had their own barracks. One of the WM's living there got tired of another WM eating the lunches she made for herself and put in the common area refrigerator. She complained but nobody would fess up to it and the thief kept stealing her lunches. So one day she made herself a nice Ham and Cheese Sandwich < which the thief was particularly fond of... AND she put rat poison in it. Props for thinking outside the box, but damn!
Lo and behold, a few hours later one of the WM's came down violently ill. Well duh! The thief was finally outed... but what if she died?!!
Guys don't even think like that. You don't poison people over a sandwich! You might break their arm if you caught them stealing but that's downright ruthless! Luckily for the two of them, the thief survived and I hope they both learned valuable lessons.
When I was in Okinawa, the WM's had their own barracks. One of the WM's living there got tired of another WM eating the lunches she made for herself and put in the common area refrigerator. She complained but nobody would fess up to it and the thief kept stealing her lunches. So one day she made herself a nice Ham and Cheese Sandwich < which the thief was particularly fond of... AND she put rat poison in it. Props for thinking outside the box, but damn!
Lo and behold, a few hours later one of the WM's came down violently ill. Well duh! The thief was finally outed... but what if she died?!!
Guys don't even think like that. You don't poison people over a sandwich! You might break their arm if you caught them stealing but that's downright ruthless! Luckily for the two of them, the thief survived and I hope they both learned valuable lessons.
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After boot camp, I remained friends with my Sr and Jr DI's for some time. Still with Jr DI today. I'm also still friends with my Sr's wife. He was an adulterer. One day after he didn't come home for several days she confronted him at the 7 day store. He hit her and knocked her down, he was a MSgt in uniform at the time.
Nobody stepped in to help. I wish I were there. That has always disgusted me. I broke off contact after she told me that.
Nobody stepped in to help. I wish I were there. That has always disgusted me. I broke off contact after she told me that.
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Hoooraaaah!!
All Military members should stand up for their comrades, NO MATTER what race, gender, or life style.
All Military members should stand up for their comrades, NO MATTER what race, gender, or life style.
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SSG Dwight Welsh
What is there to rephrase??
Its a FACT that no matter what your sex, race, lifestyle, or BRANCH.
ALL Members of the military SHOULD stand up for their comrades in arms!!
It does not matter if the person is ARMY, NAVY, MARINES, AIR FORCE, Coast GUARD!!!
We as Military members (either active or Vets) SHOULD always stand up for those who serve!!
Its a FACT that no matter what your sex, race, lifestyle, or BRANCH.
ALL Members of the military SHOULD stand up for their comrades in arms!!
It does not matter if the person is ARMY, NAVY, MARINES, AIR FORCE, Coast GUARD!!!
We as Military members (either active or Vets) SHOULD always stand up for those who serve!!
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Marines are trained to take care of their own,period! Anyone honorably earned that uniform is family. Death before dishonor applies. I hope they did the right thing before they turned him over to the MP's.
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