Rhetoric Versus Reality

If any of you watched as many hours of video testimony on the subject of fixing the rape climate in the military as I did, listening to the rhetoric of "Zero tolerance for sexual assault in the military," and "good order and discipline" in the face of escalating numbers of sexual assault reports, it produced an "eye-twitching" effect. These top brass military officials, and jag officers held the line against taking responsibility for these cases out of the hands of the convening authority, and placing them in the hands of competent experienced trial counsel with prosecutorial experience. To note: there were times during some of these sessions you could almost see expressions of guilt, and even embarrassment on some of their faces. But after years of making hollow promises, plus the escalating numbers of victims, it is clear that the military's solutions have produced nothing other than more broken lives.  

For The Sake of The Institution

Broken Lives through sexual assault

The institution attempting to fix it's own problem is like a auto mechanic performing a surgical procedure on himself. All the talk, and good ideas, and philosophy doesn't make him qualified, and it's a stupid idea. You go to the person who can get the job done.
When you're dealing with something as insidious as rape, the institution's first duty is not to report it, and not to turn in the offenders; it is damage control. When a big institution has a big problem such as sexual assault, their immediate concern is for the welfare of the institution, and not for the victim.

Chris Hayes host of the MSNBC News program "All In With Chris Hayes" wrote a book on the institutional failure in our society called "Twilight of The Elites." He sites within the religious institution that he grew up, the thing that made that religious system broken was how the abuse was handled. Survivors, religious leaders, and advocates said that the reporting of the abuse was dealt within their chain of command. So if abuse was discovered by a priest or minister, it was taken to a higher up, who would do damage control, and maybe remove the offending person, while making sure the victim would not talk about it to the police or anyone else.  We all know how well that worked out.

Journalist And TV News Host Chris Hayes speaks on his book, "Twilight of The Elites"

 



So now we have this problem of sexual assault in the ranks of our military. A problem that by all accounts that has been escalating for over 25 years, and the Military leaders want to keep the status quo.  Claiming they understand the problem, these leaders are giving lip-service to making changes. But in all honesty it sounds like the top brass wants to do only things that will help their positions and their careers. The ongoing rhetoric by the Military Leaders is that to take this one area away from them would diminish their ability to lead. That's a little over blown. In fact it seem that their ability to lead has nothing to do with whether they're able to control the outcome of a trial.

Second Verse, Same As The First

Over the course of the hearing on June 3, 2013 the U.S. military’s top officials one by one defended the policy to keep commanders involved.

• Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Amos said, “Our commanding officers are the centerpiece of the Marine Corps’ effectiveness, and professional and disciplined war-fighting organization.” He added, “Commanding officers never delegate responsibility. They should never be forced to delegate their authority.”


• Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey said commanders, “punish criminals and they protect victims when and where no other jurisdiction is capable of doing so… the role of the commander should remain central.”


• Admiral Jonathan Greenert, chief of Naval Operations stated, “It is essential that our commanders be involved in each phase of the military justice process.”


• Air Force Chief of Staff Mark Welsh added, “They must be part of the solution or there will be no solution. That’s the way our systems operate.”

These men seem to be missing one thing, they can't defend a system like the one they have when they are so far removed from the people it was meant to govern.

But here are the numbers, ladies and gentlemen, and they don't lie.  How can you have good order and discipline, with 26,000 sexual assaults.  And within the survey some victims didn't report, because the believe nothing would be done.  Now let's not kid ourselves, folks, you know that the climate in the platoon, flight, or company, can change like the proverbial weather. When a serviceman or woman doesn't report an assault it is because of the fear of retaliation, or reprisal. That can be a reality. No one (I believe) is blaming the top brass for the climate control. But know your position, Mr. or Miss Top Brass, you got to do 2 things. 1. Communicate, and communicate often. Your men and women believe that "you" believe in what you say the most.  2. Investigate. Find out on your own what's really going on.  Faith cannot be assumed, but it must be expressed, and tested.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand speaking on the floor about the stats of victims of assault in the military

 



It seems like a lot of broken men and women have slipped by the top brass and have been discarded on the ash heap of this tragedy. "The Invisible War" pulls back the tarp and shows that ash heap of broken spirits who are still struggling to overcome the fallout from that abuse. If you haven't seen it, I would suggest you do so soon.

When I enlisted in the Air Force, I clearly remember my TI saying that it was his job to change me from a civilian, to an airman. Discipline and details matter. "We want to be the best!" It made sense back then. But what doesn't make sense now is to claim how commanders speak of good order and discipline when a rapist makes it out of boot camp, and through the ranks. Apparently Good Order and Discipline did not work the tendency to rape out of him.



Survivor and Advocate Sarah Plummer

"Commanders are incentivized to protect the honor of their name, and the reputation of their command not to report the truth. Commanders, are biased and partial to the troops they know intimately.  When you are raped by a fellow service member, it is like being raped by a brother, and having your father or mother decide the case."






In reality I don't see what commanders will lose versus what many service-members have lost. I doubt their soldiers will lose respect for their command when they don't hold the final determination over sexual assault. Truthfully many may be relieved to know that they can get a fair trial, and it will be impartial. No back stabbing, or back slapping or "good ole boy" agenda being played out. This is why we need as many of you as possible to call, write, or tweet your congressmen or congresswomen.

Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand

"Our bipartisan bill takes this issue head on by removing decision-making from the chain of command, and giving that discretion to experienced trial counsel with prosecutorial experience where it belongs. That’s how we will achieve accountability, justice and fairness.” - Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D- NY)

Tell them that MJIA (Military Justice Improvement Act) is a good bill, and a good piece of legislation. It could help someone that you know already. It has been signed by twenty-six retired generals, admirals, commanders, colonels and captains – including four flag officers (two generals and two admirals) speaking out for the first time.

 Hope you had a great holiday with lots of family, friends and good moments. My next edition is on Wednesday. Take care and remember to say an encouraging word to a friend.