The Problem Of Sexual Harassment In U.S. Army

One major concern that’s spiking up in the United States Army is sexual harassment and sexual assault. Soldiers and family members from all over the world are facing some type of unwanted desire, whether it’s verbal, non-verbal, or physical. Female green suitors are at a higher risk of being sexually assaulted than males in the military. Another principle that ties in with this crime is the influence of drugs. In the Army, we can only prevent this crime from happening but never end it. Males and females are both at risk of being sexually assaulted victims, which plays a role in the continuous increase in the Army S.H.A.R.P report today.

In all three components of the Army, members experience unwanted sexual contact. Research shows that active duty females are more likely to report the wrongdoing that’s been done to them. The article, Why many sexual assault survivors may not come forward for years says, “women who had served in the U.S. Army or Air Force and acknowledged at least one attempted or completed sexual assault while they were in the military. of the 1,339 women interviewed, 18 percent said they had experienced sexual assault while serving on full-time active duty. Meanwhile, 12 percent said they had experienced sexual assault while serving in the Reserves or National Guard.” By Mengeling, Michelle A.; Booth, Brenda M.; Torner, James C.; Sadler, Anne G. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, July 2014. On the other hand, males struggle to report their cases whether they’re full-time or part-time soldiers because some males believe it’s a sign of weakness to report and feel embarrassed for allowing themselves to fall victim to sexual crimes.

Substances abuse paired with sexual desires can cloud someone's judgment and actions. For example, the predator seeks his or her prey at a party and drops pills into their drinks, after the pills take effect the perpetrator does as they please without the victim's consent. A few of the known drugs that are used on victims are Ecstasy and Rohypnol also known as roofies. The victims usually know the offender who committed the crime because they might be someone they know, such as a family member, spouse, or even a friend from work. Sexual assault can happen at work or home, no one is safe from this endless crime that can never be stopped but only prevented.

Sexual Harassment/ Assault Response & Prevention is a program we use in the Army to help assist victims and make everyone aware of the types of sexual harassment and assaults. The Army set regulations and policies to uphold standards. For example, AR 600-20 Army command policies, AR 27-10 Military Justice, and AR 350-1 Army Training and Development are just a few mandatory regulations that Army uses to train soldiers. Sexual harassment and assault crime is an ongoing war the Army will never win but only fight to prevent and minimize the behavior before it escalates.

In Conclusion, sexual assault numbers continue to spike in all three Army components. Active duty female service members are at a higher risk of being victims. Drugs are being used to take advantage of someone both males and females are at risk of being victims of unwanted behaviors. It can happen anywhere from parties, work, or even in your own home. The sexual assault numbers will continue to increase because they can’t be stopped.

References

1. “Reporting Sexual Assault In The Military: Who Reports and Why Most Servicewomen Don’t” Mengeling, Michelle A.; Booth, Brenda M.; Torner, James C.; Sadler, Anne G. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, July 2014.
2. https://www.sexualassault.army.mil/policy_orders.aspx