Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma News
A Recent Air Force Sexual Assault Case Displays The Cascading Problems With Military Justice
Wednesday, November 4, 2015 | Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - National
James W. Weirick, retired Marine lieutenant colonel and Judge Advocate, comments on a host of prevailing problems with the military justice system in the context of one airman's court-martial. He considers commanders' ability to make military justice decisions, senior command influence within the military and with pending legislation, delayed trials, and the adverse impact on involved parties "on what should be an independent judiciary."
Army Colonel 'Kissed Soldiers' Wives in Public' Says Investigation, Allowed to Retire Quietly
Saturday, August 29, 2015 | Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - National
The Fort Bragg commander had made it a practice to give the wives of subordinates unwelcome kisses on the lips at public events.
The investigation led to Army Colonel Chad McRee's removal from his commander’s job at Fort Bragg. He remained in the military and was allowed to quietly retire in April 2015, more than two years after the initial complaint about his conduct.
Budget May Cause Air Force to Postpone Programs, Not Hire 4,000 Airmen
Tuesday, August 25, 2015 | Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - National
Secretary of the Air Force Deborah James announced that Air Force civilian employees and their dependents who are 18 or more years old may file both restricted and unrestricted reports with Sexual Assault Response Coordinators (SARCs) at bases worldwide. Prior to this change, only those who filed unrestricted reports which allow an investigation were given access to SARCs.
UN Envoy Urges Leaders to Ban Sex Attacks by Security Forces
Thursday, August 20, 2015 | Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - International
The U.N. envoy urged government leaders to prohibit sexual attacks by security forces and reinforce justice amidst other security sector reforms. These reforms come when the United Nations again tries to deal with multiple reports of rape and sexual abuse of adults and children by U.N. peacekeepers in the Central African Republic. These attacks tarnish the world body's reputation.
British MoD Anti-rape Campaign Launched with Shocking Posters of 'Army Sex Attacks'
Friday, July 24, 2015 | Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - International
The British Ministry of Defence anti-rape campaign photographs depict men and women who have been raped by soldiers and warn service personnel that consent is always required before they have sex. Posters including the slogan ‘Don’t kid yourself! Without consent it’s RAPE’ will be displayed in army barracks and training centres across the country.
Two Former Army Officers Criticize Pentagon's Sexual Assault Strategy and Send President Obama a Proposed Foundation for Vital Transformational Change
Tuesday, July 21, 2015 | Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - National
Two former Army officers of the Northern Virginia law firm of Jordan Patrick & Cooley LLP urged President Obama via letter to consider their 7-step proposal to strengthen the Pentagon's anti-sexual assault plans. They believe the remedies inclusive of an executive order would promote 'robust relief for women servicemembers that is beyond the control of the conventional command structure and thwarts efforts by commands to cutoff women servicemembers from access to powerful assistance.'
Protect Our Defenders Working to Eliminate Bias in Military Justice
Tuesday, July 7, 2015 | Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - National
Don Christensen, a retired Air Force Judge Advocate General, now serves as the President of Protect Our Defenders. The group's mission is to end what it calls "the epidemic of military rape." Accusing a fellow service member of sexual assault in the military can hurt the victim career-wise, socially and administratively as current Department of Defense statistics reveal. Two-thirds who report experience retaliation. Mr. Christensen notes that "The odds are astronomically in your favor that if you conduct a sexual assault that you'll never be held responsible."
DoD to Study Link Between Sex Assault Claims, Career Retaliation
Wednesday, July 1, 2015 | Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - National
The Department of Defense (DOD)Office of Inspector General plans to examine the types of separation servicemembers had after filing sexual assault and rape reports since 2009 and then, determine if they were improperly forced out of the military due to mental health issues. The OIG will then review if those who were separated for non-disability medical conditions, including personality and adjustment disorder, were discharged according to DOD rules.
Serving in Silence: Survey Shows Only One Dishonorable Discharge for Sexual Assault in the National Guard
Tuesday, June 30, 2015 | Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - National
The NBC investigation team sent a survey to the 50 state Guard units in the nation as well as the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. They received responses from 40 out of 54 units, the first publicly available numbers on what happens to those accused of raping or sexually assaulting their fellow service members. What happens to those accused of rape or sexual assault in the National Guard varies dramatically depending on what state you work in. 28 out of the 40 states who participated in the survey have the ability to conduct a court-martial or the equivalent of a military Article 32 hearing. Only six (Arkansas, California, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina and Wisconsin) have held a court-martial in the last five years to specifically investigate an allegation of sexual assault.
Military Sexual Assault Reform Stalls Again
Saturday, June 27, 2015 | Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - National
RH Reality Check's Emily Crockett reported that "The U.S. Senate blocked a vote to include the Military Justice Improvement Act (MJIA) as an amendment to the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The amendment failed on a 50-49 vote; it had majority support, but did not get the 60 votes required to overcome a filibuster. Last year, the MJIA fell five votes short of overcoming a filibuster." Reform has been an arduous effort the past few years with staunch opposition despite the Department of Defense's own facts and survivors' testimonies. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, relentlessly pursues the issue understanding that the system wasn't working and still isn’t working now.