<p>Disgusting. </p>
<p>That’s just the reported ones. Tip of the iceberg.</p>
<p>In some ways, this is a good thing, because the publicity will hopefully force this problem to be addressed. Anyone who knows a woman in uniform knows about the rampant sexism and sexual assaults in the military, academies included. But the silence is disgusting. Maybe it will finally be forced to change.</p>
<p>The Military pushes a lot under the rug… from sexual assault to alcohol issues to depression. Then they hide behind the outer toughness and the “hoorah” mindset that they will do whatever the commanding officer wants, since he/she has control over their careers.</p>
<p>We might be reaching a tipping point that will force the military brass to tackle these issues.</p>
<p>edit: just to clarify the obvious… this is my personal (not professional) opinion</p>
<p>From my perspective, officers at the Flag level are taking this pretty darn seriously, as are most commanders. I think there is still some uncertainty about how to go about prevention without being too much of a “big brother” (in the Orwellian sense). I don’t have the stats, but I’m going to guess that the vast majority of sexual assaults occur off base, after alcohol is consumed. Those situations are where people are especially vulnerable to these types of crimes and where military leadership has rather limited reach.</p>
<p>Assaults on base, especially where others are on duty, is different. In those situations, I’d credit that to a failure of accountability and watching out for your troops. The Lackland cases are especially abhorrent to me, as those TIs are put in a position of special trust and responsibility. I hope they get the book thrown at them…and even that probably isn’t full justice, IMO.</p>
<p>"Advocates for military victims of sexual assault said Fridays report is evidence that the military has a long way to go to overcome cultural and legal barriers that stand in the way of holding perpetrators accountable. "</p>
<p>We would need to have similar stats for non-military colleges to compare. There is a crisis among civilian campuses as well. The number of sexual assaults at the academies is unknown, we only know of the reported ones. There are more being reported, especially at the Air Force Academy. That is not the same as more assaults. Do we have comparable figures from other colleges. We may be dealing with a societal problem, of which the military is a subset, and not merely a problem among those serving in uniform.</p>
<p>There is a difference between military and civilian campuses. In military campuses/training, people are given authority over others and when we think about it, it is not far off from family members doing something to minors because they are in a position to do it. The students are supposed to be trusting their seniors and instructors and have to obey.</p>
<p>^^</p>
<p>Do we know if the assaults are “authority related”? or could they be amongst peers? </p>
<p>If it’s amongst peers, and alcohol is involved, the level of this problem isn’t likely restricted to military academies. You get 18-22 year olds drinking and they’re going to make some horrible decisions…including sexual felonies. Ugh! :(</p>
<p>I hate when sexual assault is lumped all together, as if it is all the same. There is a big difference when someone is attacked and raped, and when someone gets incapacitated and gets into a stupidly vulnerable situation. I expect our future female officers to have the sense to take care of themselves and not to do risky, dumb college kid stuff. I expect that of our future male officers also. This is the same garbage that is going on at any other college, there is nothing different at these academies.</p>
<p>The article refers to another report where instructors were to blame for 48 other rapes.</p>
<p>“The article refers to another report where instructors were to blame for 48 other rapes.”</p>
<p>I believe that is at Lackland, basic training for enlisted, not the service academies. I hope those instructors, if guilty, are prosecuted to the full extent of the law. What a betrayal of trust.</p>
<p>I noted with interest that 60% of the cases were at the Air Force Academy. Is this a culture difference, and if it is, is it in willingness to report or likelihood of the offense? These stats aren’t easy to interpret.</p>
<p>I was a female at a service academy in the early years after women were first allowed. Sexual harassment was rampant and I was told by instructors, classmates & upper classmen that I didn’t belong there. Luckily I didn’t experience any physical sexual assault, but given the amount of alcohol consumed by students it wouldn’t surprise me.</p>
<p>I don’t remember which month it was (it was sometime over the fall), but Seventeen Magazine did a profile on a girl named Karley, who was one of these victims. She was at West Point and was raped by an upperclassman. Unfortunately, the attitude amongst the other men there was, allegedly, that of “she was asking for it” when rape came up during her tenure, and she left West Point after one year. </p>
<p>It’s unfortunate that this is the attitude of so many in service. I know very little about the academies, but the culture seems to be very much that of a “boy’s club” where women have to work significantly harder (harder than the average) to gain the respect of their peers. How unfortunate.</p>
<p>“It’s unfortunate that this is the attitude of so many in service. I know very little about the academies, but the culture seems to be very much that of a “boy’s club” where women have to work significantly harder (harder than the average) to gain the respect of their peers. How unfortunate.”</p>
<p>This type of problem is not limited to nor specific to the service. This is endemic in any sort of male dominated field. But the good news is that it has gotten far better over the years, as more women have been integrated into these fields.</p>
<p>Had I a daughter going into the service, to an academy, or actually even on the way to college, we would have some serious talks about self empowerment. About self respect, and avoiding situations that could get her into trouble. About having the confidence that she should never be intimidated into doing anything she doesn’t want to, with a boss, superior officer, boyfriend, anyone. How to project that so people know they can’t even give it a try. To never be incapacitated or in a situation where she could get raped. Avoidance is a huge part of this issue, and though you can’t stop everything, you sure can do a heck of a lot to control your life and not be a victim.</p>
<p>I agree with the advice not to be incapacitated. However, it is just not humanly possible to never be “in a situation where she could get raped.” </p>
<p>It’s especially hard not to be in a situation where you might be raped as a female in the military. You can, after all, be ordered to go into a situation which you would never voluntarily enter.</p>
<p>^^Yes, jonri, that sentence was badly constructed. I meant this paragraph…“Avoidance is a huge part of this issue, and though you can’t stop everything, you sure can do a heck of a lot to control your life and not be a victim.” </p>
<p>You sure can’t cover all bases, but you can do your best to minimize the risk. It’s sad that we have to think that way, but it’s necessary.</p>
<p>
I think this is a good idea. I guess not enough people have a serious talk with their sons.</p>
<p>I did have the serious talk with my sons. Who were extremely uncomfortable, and thought what I was saying was absolutely obvious…I’m sure they’re both pretty passive when it comes to girls, so of course they thought I was crazy.</p>