The United States Armed Forces, characterized by a culture of honor, dignity, and respect, has faced cases of misconduct that has affected the image of the military forces. Sexual assault and sexual harassment have been happening in every service, at all levels, in a different kind of units, and affect both women and men. Department of Defense (DOD) defines it as “intentional contact, characterized by the use of force, threats, intimidation, abuse of authority, or when the victim does not or cannot consent. The term includes a broad category of sexual offenses consisting of the following specific UCMJ offenses: rape, sexual assault, aggravated sexual contact, abusive sexual contact, forcible sodomy (forced oral and anal sex) or attempts to
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The external survey shows a sexual assault decrease from years 2012 to 2014. The percentage of victims who report sexual assault increased while the estimated prevalence of this crime decreased. DOD considered the improvement because of the major confidence in the system, policies, and programs. However, there are still numerous victims of sexual assault that they don’t report it. Why?
2014 RAND Military Workplace Study considered that the most of the violations comprised two experiences: “sexually hostile work environment and gender discrimination. Victims experienced professional and social retaliation, adverse administrative actions, or punishments for violations associated with the sexual assault”. In addition, some perpetrators transferred to other units or were promoted to another rank without punishment, while victims were accused of exaggerating their claims or lying to destroy men reputations.
Statistics in 2014 showed that most of the people affected are young and from junior ranks. Likewise, they reflected that the perpetrators are superiors who use their position of greater authority to coerce sexually subordinates. Moreover, many cases involved sexual harassment between man-to-man and …show more content…
Military commanders must establish a philosophy cultivating core military values that promote a climate of honor, respect, discipline, dignity, and integrity. All of them are required to reduce and eliminate sexual assault. Furthermore, they are responsible for informing subordinates about all the resources available against sexual assault.
On the other hand, military culture is necessary to build, to maintain, and to foster an environment against sexual assault. Transforming an organization is difficult, and it takes a time to align culture’s people in the same direction and with the same values. DOD has recognized the need for a cultural shift in the military to deal with this crime. However, it has not taken key measures to encourage this change. The military culture characterized by machismo is a challenge for the effective implementation of a program to prevent sexual assault.
To achieve the desired change, culture change must be linked to leadership at all levels, and education of all members of armed forces. Lessons learned from both private and public sector consider that to change the culture in organizations is necessary to establish performance targets, to measure its progress, to communicate goals and values to the personnel involved and to educate them to achieve the desired
The external survey shows a sexual assault decrease from years 2012 to 2014. The percentage of victims who report sexual assault increased while the estimated prevalence of this crime decreased. DOD considered the improvement because of the major confidence in the system, policies, and programs. However, there are still numerous victims of sexual assault that they don’t report it. Why?
2014 RAND Military Workplace Study considered that the most of the violations comprised two experiences: “sexually hostile work environment and gender discrimination. Victims experienced professional and social retaliation, adverse administrative actions, or punishments for violations associated with the sexual assault”. In addition, some perpetrators transferred to other units or were promoted to another rank without punishment, while victims were accused of exaggerating their claims or lying to destroy men reputations.
Statistics in 2014 showed that most of the people affected are young and from junior ranks. Likewise, they reflected that the perpetrators are superiors who use their position of greater authority to coerce sexually subordinates. Moreover, many cases involved sexual harassment between man-to-man and …show more content…
Military commanders must establish a philosophy cultivating core military values that promote a climate of honor, respect, discipline, dignity, and integrity. All of them are required to reduce and eliminate sexual assault. Furthermore, they are responsible for informing subordinates about all the resources available against sexual assault.
On the other hand, military culture is necessary to build, to maintain, and to foster an environment against sexual assault. Transforming an organization is difficult, and it takes a time to align culture’s people in the same direction and with the same values. DOD has recognized the need for a cultural shift in the military to deal with this crime. However, it has not taken key measures to encourage this change. The military culture characterized by machismo is a challenge for the effective implementation of a program to prevent sexual assault.
To achieve the desired change, culture change must be linked to leadership at all levels, and education of all members of armed forces. Lessons learned from both private and public sector consider that to change the culture in organizations is necessary to establish performance targets, to measure its progress, to communicate goals and values to the personnel involved and to educate them to achieve the desired