wk 2 reasearch notebook

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Sexual harassment elimination in the Army or Military

Shacourtney Hodge

The University of Arizona Global Campus

ENG122

Dr. Paula Hayes

9 August 2021

Sexual assault and harassment are a concern in the armed forces and especially in the US. Yearly, thousands of service members are estimated to have encountered some form of sexual violence, e.g., rape, sexual assault, or harassment. Sexual assault has been widely reported in military contexts. The issue is prevalent, and the effect is inevitable. In 2004, a study by the Department of Defense Task Force on the care of the victims of sexual abuse offered suggestions for systemic improvements in the response of individuals living with sexual violence (Ayesha, 2021). Nevertheless, raising awareness and preventing sexual abuse remains a major issue for the Defense Department, the army, and the Army Materiel Command.

These suggestions included the development of a key accountability point and a unified response system. Furthermore, the legal obligation to engage in the military judicial system was shown to be an important impediment in reporting acts of sexual assault by service members. A commanding officer of a service member was informed to report a crime, and a formal inquiry was initiated. The DoD has made numerous improvements, and federal law has been enacted since that study to guarantee that victims get appropriate treatment. The proposals of this task force led to the new policy and the creation of the Pentagon's Sexual Assault Preventive and Response Office, which would monitor all prevention and response operations related to sexual assaults. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has also introduced significant system improvements to help treat and benefit veterans seeking care with a history of wartime sexual trauma.

Military life and sexual assault experience offer distinct difficulties. Men and women who suffer sexual assault or harassment frequently live and work with the individual who has done this. When the perpetrator monitors or overshadows the victim, he may threaten his career or shut off assistance and support alternatives. Service members cannot leave a job due to a harsh working environment and may face penalties for not placing orders. Unit cohesiveness may make severing that connection difficult, unpleasant, and even dangerous for a victim by reporting abuse.

Some argue that the military's culture has to reform to avoid sexual assaults and find that sexual harassment is frequent; unit cohesiveness may also contribute to pressures on reporting incidents of violence. Although there have been numerous improvements, others argue that the DoD has not done much to prevent and react to sexual assault (Suzanne, 2021). The following sections offer information on the extent of sexual assault both inside military and military service academies. There is also a section on the experience, symptoms, and treatment of the DD's military sexual trauma (MST).

In order to mitigate military harassment, several things have to be done. First, all the leadership should be held accountable, meaning despite the level as they are responsible for creating an ambiance encouraging these harassments. Additionally, by improving the reporting system. By having a single database maintain the reports relating to assaulter harassment. This makes it easier to separate other concerns from the serious ones

Change current legislation to prevent assault. Certain legislation should be examined to see if it really creates reporting obstacles or serves as a reversal against reporters. Enhance assistance for survivors. The medical treatment regimen may not be adequate, and individuals who are attacked may require long-term care that tackles psychological problems and other problems associated with military change. Enhance sexual assault prevention training skills. The training should concentrate on psychoeducation and risk reduction skills, with a particular emphasis on the underlying causes and cultural elements in the military.

References

Ayesha R. (2021, July 2). A commission finds 'Quite a lot of tolerance for sexual harassment in the military. NPR.org. Retrieved August 11, 2021, from  https://www.npr.org/2021/07/02/1012374201/a-commission-finds-quite-a-lot-of-tolerance-for-sexual-harassment-in-the-militar

Suzanne D. (2021, February 20). Military sexual assault: Why are service members at risk, and what can be done to prevent it? USC-MSW. Retrieved August 11, 2021, from  https://msw.usc.edu/mswusc-blog/military-sexual-assault-prevalence-prevention/