Rape in the military: Female troops deserve much better

USA Today ^ | 2/5/2004

[presidio9]

More than 59,000 female troops have been deployed overseas to support the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. They have flown combat missions, served on ships and, in 12 cases, died in Iraq

[Redbob]

Helloooo!?!

Is anyone home?
This is one of several reasons there have never in the past been women in the military!

MUST we re-learn ALL of history's lessons every generation?

[independentmind]

The accusations, first reported Jan. 25 by The Denver Post, raise disturbing questions about the military's ability to protect women putting their lives on the line for the nation from attacks within their own ranks.

Oh, the irony.

[writer33]

No. Women do not deserve to be raped. Ever. Not at anytime or anyplace, regardless of whether they serve in the uniform of the U.S. Military.

This is why women are too important to be placed with weapons in their hand. They can create lives within them. That in itself is a miracle. They shouldn't be trouncing around the desert. Don't mistake my attitude. I don't believe this is justification for rape. That is intolerable behavior at any time. I just think women are far too special to spend days and nights rolling around in the mud, dirt, sand, or clay. It's unnecessary.

Chris
P.S. I'm sure I will now bring a full onslaught upon me.

[PhiKapMom]

I am with you 100% -- to be women in combat zones as soldiers is ludicrous and should never have happened. They shouldn't be on ships either IMHO.

Women in combat roles was just one of the many bad ideas orchestrated by Hillary Clinton through Bill.

[Guenevere]

I'm sitting here waiting for the more informed, and articulate military vets to weigh in.....as I've seen them do so in the past.

But that's a cop-out!

Even though I'm aware there are folks on this forum with sisters, daughters, etc. in the military....

..I will say, and I've always said...

..Women do NOT belong in combat.

Traditionally, women serving in the Armed Forces have done so wonderfully as nurses, doctors, support persons ie, clerks, secretaries....

...It's just asinine to have women right alongside men in situations that call for very close quarters, duty, etc.

That's how I feel...and always will!

And I feel the same way about women police officers and firefighters!

[Guenevere]

I'm sitting here waiting for the more informed, and articulate military vets to weigh in.....as I've seen them do so in the past.

But that's a cop-out!

Even though I'm aware there are folks on this forum with sisters, daughters, etc. in the military....

..I will say, and I've always said...

..Women do NOT belong in combat.

Traditionally, women serving in the Armed Forces have done so wonderfully as nurses, doctors, support persons ie, clerks, secretaries....

...It's just asinine to have women right alongside men in situations that call for very close quarters, duty, etc.

That's how I feel...and always will!

And I feel the same way about women police officers and firefighters!

[goodnesswins]

Not from me.

[Guenevere]

I guess I feel very strongly about this....but I have no idea how it got posted twice!

[Alberta's Child]

Yet, when several reported sexual assaults in the combat zone during the past year, equal treatment vanished. They say their complaints were ignored or spurred mistreatment by male superiors.

This is a thoroughly misleading statement, unless the author can prove that complaints from male soldiers involving assaults by other soldiers were addressed promptly. I find that highly unlikely.

I'm not one to condone sexual assaults (in the military or otherwise), but quite frankly these women should just get the hell out or shut the hell up. It's no coincidence that women have only been permitted in the military on an "equal" basis in an age when it has become the official policy of the U.S. military to minimize casualties at any and all costs. You didn't hear Gloria Steinem complaining back in the early 1970s that half of the 58,000 body bags coming home from Vietnam should have women in them.

[mylife]

Im wondering just how an armed soldier gets raped?

You have a loaded weapon! and in a warzone it should never leave your side!

[templar]

Women in combat roles was just one of the many bad ideas orchestrated by Hillary Clinton through Bill.

The push for women in combat goes back quite a bit further than the Clintons, all the way back to the start of the feminist movement and women in the regular military. How long has it been since the end of the WAC?

[George W. Bush]

They say their complaints were ignored or spurred mistreatment by male superiors.

If they were real soldiers, as advertised and as paid to be, they would pull out their gun and deal with the assault on their person. Not run crying to the authorities.

It would only have to happen a couple of times before the men behaved themselves.

Some speculate that there are rape accusations to cover up overseas pregnancies or to further promotion or as petty vengeance or to dodge out of the service or get reassigned to softer duty.

[EGPWS]

MUST we re-learn ALL of history's lessons every generation?

Yes, for then it is much easier for the haters of our history as it were to rewrite it slowly but surely when we have to relearn history time and time again.

[XJarhead]

I'm sure that, just like in the civilian world, there are times when a valid sexual assault case is not handled correctly in the military.

That being said, the stats and anecdotes don't impress me because there is too much detail lacking. For example:

One female officer who reported an assault by a subordinate now faces a court-martial on charges of fraternizing with a subordinate and adultery because she is married.

The assumption is that because she reported an assault means that an assault actually happened. That's not necessarily true, and the article has no facts supporting or disputing her claim. Just from looking at that story, its possible that she was caught having sex with an enlisted guy, and claimed assault so she wouldn't get busted. I hate to speculate, but that's all the article really gives us to work with.

These type of complaints have to be addressed on an individualized basis because the facts are specific to each case. The conclusory claim that the military mishandles some allegations of sexual assault is almost worthless.

[kegler4]

Absolutely astounding that the majority of replies so far are blaming the fact that women are in the military rather than blaming the men who do the raping or the mindset that allows it to happen (just take a look at what is STILL going on at the military academies even after nearly 30 years of being coed).

Gosh, I work around women here in my office and we haven't had a rape in ages. There weren't even any rapes when we had a summer pool party and some of the women wore their bikinis.

[Killborn]

Two things:

1) When the armed forces operate in cultures where men being close to women (except if the men is her kin) is considered taboo, male soldiers just can't be sent to frisk the women or assault a sorority house without the locals getting angry at us. What should the Armed Forces do then?

2) What do you guys think about Phaedrus's theory that an army that is operated on love will be more effective than one operated on comraderie? For example, a guy soldier will fight harder to protect the girl he's in love with?

PS: I'm kind of leaning towards keeping women out of combat. I also think that Phaedrus's theory is bunk. You don't need love, just a bond of friendship that is forged through combat and training. Just trying to guage your opinions and ideas.

[Lokibob]

"The recent allegations fit a pattern of female troops who have been sexually assaulted by servicemen in combat zones. A study released in 1998 found that a third of 160 women who served in the 1991 Persian Gulf War reported "physical sexual harassment," including 13 who said they'd been assaulted. The study, conducted by researchers from the Department of Veterans Affairs, did not examine whether the charges were reported formally or acted on by the military. "

 

My last physical with the VA, the Doctor asked if I had been sexually harassed while in the military.  Being a male, and after laughing, I told her no.  Then asked why she was asking me that question.

She replied that they are conducting a survey of sexual harassment in the military, and under the atmosphere of political correctness, they have to ask the same question of all vets.

Imagine asking a 80 year vet of WWII if he had been sexually harassed.

[xzins]

Hit piece against the military by someone with an agenda. I base that opinion on counseling experience in the army. Their N is 39....39 reports by women out of a year and a total deployment during that period (Army, AF, N, Marines) that must be pushing 500,000. There have been something approaching 91 million man-days served there and out of that we have 39 assaults.

Complaints about not having civilian hospital level treatment for rape in combat hospitals won't get any sympathy for me. Combat hospitals aren't geared for that -- they're there for combat casualty care.

One of the complaints being a female officer who was subsequently charged with adultery and fraternization means that JAG found reason for those charges....they were stupid to use her case to fluff their story.

In short, hit piece against the military.

Xzins
Chaplain (Retired) US Army

[Tactical]

I know this can turn into one major discussion about the role of women in the military or even civilian jobs such as law enforcement, but I want to point out a couple of things.

Women are here to stay, believe it or not. Yup some of 'em are smaller than most of us men, but then again, I know some guys that are much smaller than most women I know. (Some of those guys are in the Marine Corp, some are in law enforcement).

With that said, I once had a team that ended up being all women in law enforcement. The other Watch Commanders (law enforcement) snickered at my team. We were on the busiest shift in the department and not once did I ever see any of these women, fail to do their job out of fear for their own safety, or due to lack of knowledge or abilties.

It was a kick watching these women rat pack some 6'3" dude that thought he was a tough guy. At first I always tried to be there (you know that male protective instinct), but I found my maleness wasn't all that necessary, as these gals could handle whatever was thrown at them.

Also, one of them was one of the best shots in the department and they were trying to recruit her for the Police Olympics Pistol Team.

I was very proud of this team of women and would happily work with them together or individually, anywhere at anytime. Many have gone on to be supervisors and have their own shifts or divisions.

Most of us guys love to look at pretty women, but we all had better learn to control our animal instincts. Maybe the women in the military need to do what the gals I worked with did. If someone messed with them, all of them would rat pack that guy, cop or not and there'd be no more heard outta that guy. He'd slink away back to his slug hole.

My point? Women have very different physical assets and abilities, but under fire, I've found them solid, good common sense, unafraid workers in heated situations. An organization that doesn't protect it's assets needs a top down reorganization.