The military culture is unfamiliar to those who haven’t served, but it’s been in the news lately because of the scandal surrounding sexual assaults and how the crimes and the victims are dealt with. The focus thus far has been on the general failure to bring offenders to justice and the frequency with which victims are punished.
There’s an underlying problem that’s not getting enough attention, and that is the tendency of so many members to commit acts of sexual violence against comrades — a clear indication that recruits are failing to think. While it is true that the people who serve are human beings no different from society at large, servicemen and women can and should be held — and indeed hold themselves — to a much higher standard.
When you serve in the military, every member of every branch is your comrade in arms — people you expect to have your back in times of danger. The immorality of sexual assault aside, what sense does it make to abuse, disrespect, assault, or violate someone who might at some point have your life in their hands?
I have no doubt there will be increased emphasis on sexual assault in military training classes, both for enlisted personnel and officers. The point I made above is something that every recruit should be able to understand and be stressed in training.
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