Note to Readers: The views expressed within this blog post are NOT to be interpreted as the views of the United States Army or the Department of Defense. These views are my own personal interpretations of recent events and shall not be associated to my uniformed duties and service. This post shall only be expressed and shared within the confines of this course.
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Written By: Jordan J. Venglass ('21)
Over the past year, the United States public has gained insight into the growing struggles that the Department of Defense has had when it comes to combatting sexual assault within the various military branches. After the tragic events that unfolded on Ft. Hood with the murder of SPC Guillen, the outcry for external involvement from the federal government became clear.
Senior officials responded with mandating an extensive independent review of the command climate and culture at Ft. Hood, which highlighted several concerning statistics and eye witness accounts from soldiers based on the instillation. (1) It became clear that the Army's leadership from noncommissioned officers to senior field grade officers had contributed to a toxic command culture that undermined the Army's commitment to safety, respect, inclusiveness, diversity, and freedom from sexual harassment. (1)
(For this interested on the background context, please review the PDF which can be downloaded at the following link: US Army Fort Hood Review Website. I have read the entirety of the PDF and been engaged in several officer led discussions on the matter and I must say it is eye opening. **Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Etc.)
After months of debate regarding next steps from the review, legislators have taken action into their own hands and are now introducing the Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevention Act. (2) This new bipartisan legislation is led by, "Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), chair of the Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee, alongside U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ), President of Protect Our Defenders Colonel Don Christensen, USAF (ret.), survivor Amy Marsh, and IAVA Executive Vice President Tom Porter." (2) This would introduce the concept of independent prosecution of service members who are under investigation for related crimes and provide increased funding for professional training that would assist senior military leaders in combatting this reoccurring issue. (2) This is notable due to the fact that it is attempting to replace an out dated model that relies of the chain of command to prosecute and investigate these matters. (2)
For those not within or familiar with the military's inner workings, there is an undeniable complication when it comes to reporting occurrences due to the hierarchy that is innate within the profession of arms. The concept of one's rank has limited the voices of many survivors of sexual assault and abuse due to a fear of retaliation from those outranking the victim. However, this legislation provides hope to countless brave service members who have sacrificed much and quietly endured traumatic experiences while working in service to our great nation. As a soon to commission officer, I plan to do my part in rewriting a dark history regarding this topic within the ranks of my unit.
“Sexual assault in our military is an epidemic and it’s clear that the current system is not working for survivors. Despite repeated efforts to protect our women and men in uniform rates of harassment and assault continue to rise while prosecutions decline. Congress has a solemn responsibility to protect our service members, and right now we have more work to do,” said Senator Gillibrand. (2)
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Works Cited:
(1): US Army Fort Hood Review Website
(2): Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevention Act
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