“Sexual assault is an ugly mark on our proud reputation; it goes against everything we claim to be as United States Marines … it is a crime … and we will eradicate it from the Corps,” said General James F. Amos, Commandant of the Marine Corps.

The Marine Corps recognizes that sexual assault is a problem within our ranks and we are taking action now to change our culture to prevent and eliminate this crime. This is not who we are as a Marine Corps. As Marines, we pride ourselves on iron discipline and combat excellence. We know sexual assault damages lives, erodes trust and unit cohesion, and dishonors all Marines past and present. We are accountable as individual Marines and leaders at every level. Americans join our Corps with the faith that we will treat them with dignity and respect, and we will address any misconduct or criminal behavior with swift and fair justice.

Marines must also have confidence that, if assaulted, we will immediately provide compassionate victim support and hold offenders accountable. When it comes to sexual assault prevention, all Marines know we have fallen short.

Wilkerson: Demotion, ouster politically motivated

On October 18, 2013October 18, 2013 By AdministratorIn Military Policy, Sexual AssaultLeave a comment

Lt. Col. James Wilkerson, the former Aviano Air Base, Italy, inspector general whose overturned sexual assault conviction triggered calls for change to long-standing military law, called his forced retirement and demotion to major an unfair and politically motivated decision.

“I emphatically disagree with [the] decision and believe my service record provides clear proof that I honorably served in the rank of lieutenant colonel, so much that I was promoted to colonel,” Wilkerson said in a statement to Air Force Times.

It is the first time Wilkerson has spoken publicly about his case.

Attorney for accused student seeks superintendent’s recusal in sex assault case

On October 18, 2013October 18, 2013 By AdministratorIn Military Policy, Sexual AssaultLeave a comment

Attorney for accused student seeks superintendent’s recusal in sex assault case

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — A lawyer for a U.S. Naval Academy student accused of sexual assault is asking a federal judge to remove the school’s superintendent from the case out of concern he could be biased from political pressure due to the heightened focus on the sexual assault problem in the military.

Jason Ehrenberg, an attorney for Midshipman Josh Tate, wrote in a court filing submitted Tuesday night that a bias on the part of Vice Adm. Michael Miller could affect how he chooses who will serve on a court-martial panel that will decide his client’s guilt or innocence. Ehrenberg noted that the superintendent decided to refer the case to a court-martial despite recommendations from an investigating officer and Miller’s own senior counsel not to do so after an Article 32 hearing. The hearing resembles a preliminary hearing in civilian court.

DOD Bolsters sexual assault victim advocacy with new initiatives

On October 18, 2013October 18, 2013 By AdministratorIn Military Policy, Sexual AssaultLeave a comment

DOD Bolsters sexual assault victim advocacy with new initiatives

WASHINGTON – The Defense Department continues to take steps to improve victims’ confidence in sexual assault advocacy through a multi-pronged approach, said the deputy director for DOD’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, Oct. 3.

Air Force Col. Alan R. Metzler, SAPRO’s deputy director, emphasized that the first step to stopping sexual assault in the military is through prevention and working to reinforce cultural imperatives of mutual trust and respect, team commitment, and professional values.

Senior Airman raped in Okinawa

On October 16, 2013October 16, 2013 By AdministratorIn Sexual Assault, USAFLeave a comment

My Duty to Speak

Sarah, United States Air Force

It all began 22 March 2003. I landed in a foreign land as a technical school graduate. After departing my flight I got settled into this new land called Okinawa. When I finally got acclimated to the shop I met my first supervisor, Staff Sergeant ***** Our first supervisor/trainee session was at CoCo’s, the local curry shop. Since this was all new to me, I thought that this was how bonds were built between the ranks. Then **** began telling me about all of his heterosexual and homosexual relationships he had been having on the island. Mind you, this man was married with a child. I began to feel like this encounter was not going as it should and was feeling very uncomfortable about the topic.

After our food came he propositioned me. He said, “If you have sex with me I will give you…

View original post 1,861 more words

Nellis major faces trial Tuesday on sex abuse charges

On October 15, 2013October 15, 2013 By AdministratorIn Military Policy, Sexual AssaultLeave a comment

Nellis major faces trial Tuesday on sex abuse charges

Nellis Air Force Base officers will proceed Tuesday with prosecuting and defending one of their own for alleged sex abuse. The case of Maj. Charles Cox comes as military leaders are cracking down sexual offenses in the wake of a surge of such cases reported by the Pentagon earlier this year.

Cox, a nurse assigned to the 99th Medical Operations Squadron at Nellis is charged with abusive sexual contact on an unconscious person, assault by battery and conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman. The Air Force has made little public about the case, which was reported through the base’s Sexual Assault Response Coordinator.

Command Influence to Figure in Navy Rape Case

On October 14, 2013October 23, 2013 By AdministratorIn Military Policy, Navy, Sexual AssaultLeave a comment

Command Influence to Figure in Navy Rape Case

Congress didn’t waste any time weighing in on the case either. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., served notice that she will cite the Naval Academy sexual assault case in her efforts to legislate a major overhaul of the Uniform Code of Military Justice to take away commanders’ authority to refer charges and overrule decisions in courts-martial.

“It is time to move the sole decision-making power over whether serious crimes go to trial from the chain of command into the hands of non-biased, professionally trained military prosecutors — where it belongs,” Gillibrand said.

Gillibrand won’t quit on sexual assault bill

On October 14, 2013October 23, 2013 By AdministratorIn Felony Crime, Military Policy, Sexual AssaultLeave a comment

Gillibrand won’t quit on sexual assault bill

Gillibrand hasn’t yielded, recruiting flag officers and members of the judge advocate general corps to her side. She now has 46 senators, including Sen. Charles E. Schumer, the chamber’s No. 3 Democrat, publicly endorsing the amendment to the Defense Authorization Act containing the reforms. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, a 1958 Annapolis graduate, is not among seven Republicans supporting Gillibrand.

Don’t call it a women’s bill. It reaches to the very heart and soul of our armed forces, to their sense of decency, obedience and honor – to our war fighters’ ability to win conflicts.

Ft. Sill Commander Addresses Growing Sexual Assaults

On October 12, 2013October 12, 2013 By AdministratorIn Military Policy, Sexual AssaultLeave a comment

Ft. Sill Commander Addresses Growing Sexual Assaults

FORT SILL Okla_ Top leaders at Ft. Sill met Wednesday to have an open and candid discussion regarding sexual assaults and harassments and the policies in place to make sure no crime goes unreported.

Over the past two years, Major General Mark McDonald said there have been about 50 cases of sexual assault and harassment. Wednesday’s seminar with top leaders came months before new initiatives set forth by the Department of Defense will take effect. In August, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel outlined several new initiatives to reduce the amount of sexual harassment in the military.

Chain of command hurts justice and victims

On October 12, 2013October 12, 2013 By AdministratorIn Felony Crime, Military Policy, Sexual AssaultLeave a comment

Chain of command hurts justice and victims

Sexual assaults in the military undergo a lengthy process of reporting before perpetrators can be punished. Faced with the mountains of red tape that must be cut through to bring justice to their offenders, many victims decide not to report the assaults at all. Victims are afraid to confront their situation, fearing that the revelation of their case will affect their role in the military.

Even more problematic is that the victim must report it in their chain of command – which can pose hardships for the victim, Capt. Lory Manning explains in an article for PBS titled “Emails shed new light on military sexual assault case.”

MILITARY JUSTICE FOR ALL

Category: Sexual Assault

USMC Sexual Assault Prevention & Response Campaign Plan

Wilkerson: Demotion, ouster politically motivated

Attorney for accused student seeks superintendent’s recusal in sex assault case

DOD Bolsters sexual assault victim advocacy with new initiatives

Senior Airman raped in Okinawa

Nellis major faces trial Tuesday on sex abuse charges

Command Influence to Figure in Navy Rape Case

Gillibrand won’t quit on sexual assault bill

Ft. Sill Commander Addresses Growing Sexual Assaults

Chain of command hurts justice and victims

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