THE INVISIBLE WARRIOR REPORT: In The Heat of The Night

In the heat of the night

Seems like a cold sweat
Creeping cross my brow, oh yes
In the heat of the night
I'm a feelin' motherless somehow
Stars with evil eyes stare from the sky
(In the heat of the night)
-Quincy Jones

A blues tune about the crimes of the old South, written and composed by Qunicy Jones, became the title of a hit movie in 1967 about the evil misery of crime. I think about how sexual assault in the military is quiet, but it's presence is still there, and ripple through lives.

Seems Like a Cold Sweat

The bad news is, sexual assault continues to be an issue in the US Armed Forces. A female trainee at Fort Benning, Georgia, leveled sexual assault allegations against her drill sergeant, which set off deeper investigations showing additional allegations of sexual misconduct involving trainees and drill sergeants.

The good news is, I give the US Army good marks for taking action against these Drill Sergeants who crossed the line. According to a NY Times article:

“Our initial actions are to ensure the safety and welfare of all of our Soldiers,” the statement said. “The drill sergeants have been suspended from drill sergeant duties, and will have no contact with trainees during the course of the investigation."- Fort Benning Drill Sergeants Suspended Amid Sexual Misconduct Allegations. Aug. 23, 2017

The Army has taken some pains to assure the public that all soldiers there are required to complete the Army’s “very thorough” Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention training program, known as Sharp. The obvious problem to me is, while the US Army acknowledges that sexual assault is a real issue, I wonder if their methods in dealing with sexual assault are out-dated. I've yet to see many victims of sexual assault give SHARP high marks in effectiveness.

PFC Schutte Woodruff

"I honestly can't remember one thing particular thing that came from any of the videos at all because we were so tired, and we were so beat down, and none of those videos helped me at all. The SHARP program, definitely could have been enhanced if they had maybe a live speaker talk about it, or if they just had somebody that was passionate about it. I think that's where a lot of times it gets kind of thrown under the rug. We just make people go through the SHARP, but they're not passionate about it. They have no desire to really get with victims and see how they operate because you can't really fix something that's a problem if you don't understand where that person may be coming from. A lot of the times I've ran into a few that just... they're not approachable. As a victim, you need to be approachable. If I can't approach you with my deepest, darkest secrets, you are nothing. You, you are of no help. All the training you have is nothing if I don't come forward."- Natasha Schuette Woodruff Youtube, CAPE, June 10, 2010

Sharp and SAPRO (Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office) are set up as programs to speak

to the issues, but not necessarily to the soldier, sailor, airmen, or marine personally. Creativity can't change attitudes about rape. And you can give death by power point lectures on the subject, but it's not the magic bullet in stopping or at least decreasing the number of assaults. What can a recruit do in a situation where he or she is watched, commanded, and handled by a person with complete authority over their every move? If a Drill Instructor wants to give her extra duty, she must comply, if he wants to isolate her, she has to obey. Basically, a boot camp recruit, jumps, stands, sits, speaks, eats, and takes a crap when the DI tells them to. It's all about making a person into a someone who takes orders and obeys without question. When a Drill Sergeant demands a recruit gives up his or her sexuality, that is a human violation, and has no place in any institution.

I've Got Trouble Wall To Wall

Natasha Woodruff shares her testimony of her sexual assault in boot camp, but also the little things that lead up to the incident. Her testimony shows that her Drill Instructor was highly proficient in his job, but morally bankrupt in handling female recruits.

"I was out on the firing range and the same drill sergeant came around, and as he cleared my weapon he was asking me if I would let him have sex with me, or if there was anybody in the barracks that he could-- and that I was I was so shocked I was like-- 'no drill sergeant-- you know. 'I don't know if anybody in the Bay would want to do that.' I said you know-- 'no.' When I got back I went to that same battle buddy-- and her I talked about it and she was like-- 'wow, I can't believe he said that,' and there was nobody around though because the firing ranges are set up differently--- and so there was no again-- no witnesses for anything but that would have been my second red flag." Natasha Schuette Woodruff Youtube, CAPE, June 10, 2010

The problem of sexual assault continues because some men and women are recruited, and even promoted, based on total performance, and not on character. Character is the inner stuff that keeps us all in check at every level of our lives. Good parents don't abuse or hurt a child to prove they are in charge. A person may have the smarts and skill to run a company but someone with integrity doesn't grope an employee because he writes the paycheck. A good minister doesn't molest a young altar boy in the name of God because no one is looking. Character needs to matter more that ever in our military.
When a person enlists into the military, a background check is made to some degree. The background check should red flag behavior which would make the person an undesirable. I wonder how deep the background checks go? A quick check would show felony convictions, or even misdemeanors, but does it always catch the other things. Sometimes these slip under the radar because a deep character assessment wasn't carried out.

Stars With Evil Eyes

The other problem is; if leaders are dead serious about getting rid of sexual assault and harassment out of the military, then it needs to be said to the troops, and said often. Good leaders don't just talk about the issue when it becomes a scandal, but they do their best to make sure everyone knows it won't be tolerated. And the highest ranking officers need to keep the leadership below them accountable right down to the last man. We've had so many military scandals in the past including what happened at Aberdeen, it should be a constant reminder that this problem won't go away with time.

Thanks you: Rosie Palfy and Veracrusin for your insight and awareness into military issues.

Special thanks to: Barbara on Twitter @Barbara20110481 for sharing the article: Fort Benning Drill Sergeants Suspended Amid Sexual Misconduct Allegations.

Related Vlog: