Shakesville: The Army's Sexual Assault Problem, Here It Is
(Content note: military sexual trauma, rape culture, hostility to consent]
After nearly two years of requests from Stars and Stripes, the U.S . Army finally released the 28-page report of a task force convened to address the problems of sexual assault at Army installations in South Korea.
If you have the spoons, you may want to read the whole thing1, as it very thoroughly goes over the rape culture problem of the Army, many of which are familiar territory (i.e., survivors are afraid to speak out for fear of being disciplined themselves; there are insufficient numbers of female unit victim advocates, etc.)
The report particularly singles out problems in the leadership . It notes, for example, that sexual assault prevention isn’t taken seriously, but “perceived as a mandated check-the-block requirement to be quickly completed rather than training to a level of working knowledge.” In light of that, it is depressing but unsurprising that the task force’s findings also included the following (bold emphasis mine):
There is a lack of knowledge among leadership about how to handle reported sexual assaults .
The report implied that leaders, along with their subordinates, might not even be able to distinguish between consensual sex and sexual assault .
Questions remain about what constitutes consent, the draft said.
“Might not even be able to distinguish.” “Questions remain.” Sure.
And is the Army getting right on task with addressing the report’s findings ?
Well, not so much:
According to military officials at the time, the task force was initially scheduled to present its findings to the Eighth Army commander within a matter of months.
However, nearly two years later, Eighth Army officials say that the report has yet to be finalized and approved by leadership, even though some of the task force s recommendations, such as the installation of closed-circuit cameras in barracks, were enacted more than a year ago.
I have plumbed the depths of my vocabulary of profanities, and still I find no words for how contemptible this is.
References
- ^ read the whole thing (www.stripes.com)
Budget furloughs won't impact military sex assault prevention unit …
By Larry Shaughnessy
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen .
Martin Dempsey face two crises – an increase in sex assault claims within the military and heavy budget cuts.
But they said on Wednesday that military staffing reductions due to forced budget cuts under sequestration would not impact an initiative aimed at combating sex assault.
Civilians central to the Pentagon’s Sexual Assault Prevention Response Program will be exempt from furloughs that are a consequence of spending cuts.
“We have already excepted medical personnel required to handle emergency situations and crisis intervention,” Defense Department spokeswoman Cynthia Smith said in a statement.
“This additional exception will ensure responsive victim care and ensure program initiatives recently directed by Secretary Hagel will be implemented swiftly and efficiently,” Smith said.
A recent Pentagon study found that even as the number of troops in uniform decreases, cases of sex assault in the military have increased in recent years.
Affidavit: Army sex assault manager threatened ex | Military Times …
CLARKSVILLE, TENN. A police affidavit in the stalking case of an Army officer who manages the sexual harassment and assault response program at Fort Campbell says Lt . Col . Darin Haas threatened to kill his ex-wife in text messages.
According to the affidavit, obtained by WSMV-TV, Alissa Owen told police on Wednesday that Haas had been sending threatening text messages since Nov .
2011, shortly before their divorce was finalized . Owen took out an order of protection against Haas in Oct .
2012 that is still in effect. A Fort Campbell spokesman initially said Haas and Owen have mutual orders of protection, but the ex-wife s attorney said on Friday that this is not correct .
He said there s no protection order against his client.
Haas was removed from his position on Thursday.
Clarksville Police are investigating.
Website surveys military 'dating activity' | WAVY.com | Virginia
RICHMOND, Va. (WAVY) – A dating-auction website had ranked all branches of the military in dating categories including which is the most dateable.
WhatsYourPrice.com1 conducted a first-date survey to determine which branch had the greatest first-date potential . The categories involved were activity, generosity and baggage.
If you re looking for a gentleman, the Coast Guard leads the pack . WhatsYourPrice.com says members pay $128.47 per date .
The rest fell as follows:
Air Force ($119.20)
Army ($115.82)
Marines ($108.61)
Navy ($89.33 per date)
If you re looking for fun, those in the Army go on the most dates per month, at 3.4:
Marines (2.9)
Navy (2.1)
Coast Guard (1.7)
Air Force (1.4)
WhatsYourPrice.com also says the Navy leads the way with the most divorces, with 122:
Army (108)
Coast Guard (49)
Air Force (44)
Marines (37)
References
- ^ WhatsYourPrice.com (www.whatsyourprice.com)
Daily Kos: Another of the military's sexual assault prevention officers …
You’re gonna need more than a new poster for this one.
Yeah, I think I see the problem here1:
A sergeant first class in charge of sexual assault prevention at Fort Hood is under investigation for sexual assault, the Pentagon announced Tuesday night.
The soldier, whose name has not been released, is being investigated for abusive sexual contact, pandering, assault and maltreatment of subordinates . The soldier has been relieved of his duties at the Texas post, and no charges have yet been filed, the Pentagon said . He oversaw the program at the battalion level, a unit of about 800 soldiers.
The soldier is being investigated for, among other things, forcing a subordinate into prostitution and sexually assaulting two others, according to a Capitol Hill staffer who was briefed on the case and spoke about it on condition of anonymity.
Two senior Pentagon officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the case is under investigation, also confirmed that the sergeant is being investigated for running a prostitution ring.
This would be different from the other “sexual assault prevention program” officer arrested for sexual assault2, and the need to actually clarify which “sexual assault prevention program” officer being arrested for sexual assault we’re talking about may suggest that even the military culture around “sexual assault prevention programs” may need a bit of damn work.
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has “directed all service branches to re-train, re-credential and re-screen” officers implementing the military’s sexual assault prevention and response programs .
Sen . Claire McCaskill, for one, isn’t impressed:
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Sen . Claire McCaskill is among the female senators on the Armed Services Committee leading the push against sexual assault in the military, and the Missouri Democrat is now mobilizing her campaign supporters behind the effort.
Instead of focusing on prosecution, there has been an effort to train their way out of this problem with programs discussing unwanted sexual contact or encouraging a buddy system for women on bases, McCaskill wrote an in email to her campaign mailing list .
It s not going to work . This isn t a problem the military can train its way out of.
Can’t say she’s wrong about that one . Glad she won her election, or we’d instead have Republican poster boy Todd “Legitimate Rape” Akin helping to decide what to do about sexual assaults in the military, and I imagine that wouldn’t have gone well .
Originally posted to Hunter6 on Wed May 15, 2013 at 10:34 AM PDT.
Also republished by Police Accountability Group7 and Daily Kos8.
(Load)9 (Load)10 (Load)11 (Load)12 (Load)13 (Load)14 (Load)15
References
- ^ I think I see the problem here (www.usatoday.com)
- ^ other “sexual assault prevention program” officer arrested for sexual assault (www.dailykos.com)
- ^ directed all service branches to re-train, re-credential and re-screen (www.usnews.com)
- ^ isn’t impressed (blogs.rollcall.com)
- ^ hunch. (www.dailykos.com)
- ^ Hunter (www.dailykos.com)
- ^ Police Accountability Group (www.dailykos.com)
- ^ Daily Kos (www.dailykos.com)
- ^ (Load) (www.dailykos.com)
- ^ (Load) (www.dailykos.com)
- ^ (Load) (www.dailykos.com)
- ^ (Load) (www.dailykos.com)
- ^ (Load) (www.dailykos.com)
- ^ (Load) (www.dailykos.com)
- ^ (Load) (www.dailykos.com)
Army's sex assault prevention program manager accused of sexual misconduct
Army s sex assault prevention program manager accused of sexual misconduct
Washington A soldier assigned to coordinate a sexual assault prevention program in Texas is under investigation for abusive sexual contact and other alleged misconduct and has been suspended
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Obama aides meet with lawmakers on military sex assaults | Army …
Top aides to President Obama met with members of Congress on Thursday to discuss legislation to crack down on the growing number of sexual assaults in the military. Valerie Jarrett, senior adviser to Obama, and Tina Tchen, chief of staff for first lady Michelle Obama, spoke with House and Senate members from both parties. White House spokesman Jay Carney said the meeting reflects Obama s concern about a new report that shows a disturbing rise in sexual assaults by servicemembers.
He has zero tolerance for sexual assault in the military, Carney said. One of the meeting participants, Sen . Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., said that while we have made some progress in establishing new policies to address sexual assault in the ranks, the recent report underscores the critical need for continued action to prevent this crime, and this meeting is one positive step forward for advancing solutions.
Sixteen lawmakers met with Jarrett and Tchen, both of whom are members of the president s Council on Women and Girls. The officials discussed a variety of pending proposals in Congress to change the military s justice system to better deal with sexual assaults . They ranged from rules about the treatment of accusers to eliminating provisions that allow commanders to override verdicts.
Klobuchar and Sen . Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, have a bill that would require the military to retain restricted reports of sexual assault for 50 years; currently, servicemembers have to request retention of those records. President Obama did not attend the meeting .
He was traveling to Austin to launch a series of tours focusing on middle-class jobs. A report this week says up to 26,000 military members were sexually assaulted last year, and sexual assaults in the military jumped by more than one-third since 2010. Obama called the findings outrageous and demanded that the Pentagon take action.
Bottom line is I have no tolerance for this, Obama said . I have communicated this to the secretary of Defense . We re going to communicate this again to folks up and down the chain in areas of authority, and I expect consequences.
Sen . Patty Murray, D-Wash., was among those who met with Jarrett and Tchen, spokesman Matt McAlvanah said. Murray and Sen .
Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H . who also attended the White House meeting have proposed a bill that would provide special counsels to assault victims to help guide them through the military justice system. We must do more to root out the culture that fosters this behavior and provide substantive assistance to those who face these tragedies alone, Murray said in introducing her bill.
Ayotte said laws need to be strengthened so that all victims can come forward without fear of retribution. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has asked leaders of the Senate Armed Services Committee to use the Defense Department authorization bill as a way to improve the military justice system with regard to sexual assaults. Sen .
Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., has proposed a bill that would take the reporting of sexual assaults out of the military s chain of command. Other senators at the meeting, according to a White House statement: Sens . Susan Collins, R-Maine; Deb Fischer, R-Neb.; Kay Hagan, D-N.C.; Claire McCaskill, D-Mo.; Jeanne Shaheen, R-N.H.
The conference also featured seven House members: Reps .
Susan Davis, D-Calif.; Chellie Pingree, D-Maine.; Tim Ryan, D-Ohio; Jackie Speier, D-Calif.; Niki Tsongas, D-Mass.; Michael Turner, R-Ohio; and Jackie Walorski, R-Ind.
Aside from Jarrett and Tchen, other administration officials also met with the lawmakers: Liz Sherwood Randall, White House coordinator for defense policy with National Security Staff; Kathryn Ruemmler, counsel to the president; Miguel Rodriguez, director of office of legislative affairs; and Lynn Rosenthal, White House adviser on violence against women.