SecDef calls for culture of dignity, respect

News > SecDef calls for culture of dignity, respect

SecDef calls for culture of dignity, respect

Posted 5/8/2013

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by Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

5/8/2013 - WASHINGTON (AFPS) -- Allegations of misconduct against an Air Force officer in charge of the service's sexual assault prevention and response effort underscored the importance of Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel's effort to prevent sexual assault across the military.

Hagel began his Pentagon news conference Tuesday by discussing the incident in which the officer was arrested by Arlington County police and charged with sexual battery. "He's been removed from his position pending the outcome of this investigation," the secretary said. "We're all outraged and disgusted over these very troubling allegations."

Hagel called sexual assault "a despicable crime" and said it is a serious challenge to the department. "It's a threat to the safety and the welfare of our people and the health, reputation and trust of this institution," he said.

He shifted to the annual report on sexual assault within the military the department delivered to Congress today. "This department may be nearing a stage where the frequency of this crime and the perception that there is tolerance of it could very well undermine our ability to effectively carry out the mission and to recruit and retain the good people we need," he said. "That is unacceptable to me and the leaders of this institution. And it should be unacceptable to everyone associated with the United States military."

Hagel called for a cultural change in the military with respect to sexual assault. He announced initiatives so "every service member is treated with dignity and respect, where all allegations of inappropriate behavior are treated with seriousness, where victims' privacy is protected, where bystanders are motivated to intervene and where offenders know that they will be held accountable by strong and effective systems of justice."

Hagel wants leaders to take this seriously and stressed the department will hold them responsible for putting in place programs to prevent sexual assault and to treat victims of the crime with compassion and justice.

Comments

5/10/2013 10:40:38 AM ET
Anyone who says this isn't happening is truly dilusional. It's happening. It's always happened. It will continue to happen especially with the culture Rick and Maj are spreading. I was harassed and assaulted to include raped throughout my career. It was opinions like yours that encouraged it perpetrated it and prevented reports. The numbers show that males and females are finally feeling confident in reporting confident in that SOMEONE ANYONE will take this seriously.

27 yr vet, AF

5/10/2013 8:07:22 AM ET
Wolf it is just wrong that repealing DADT increased rape in the military.

Analyst, USAFA

5/9/2013 2:33:34 PM ET
And worst this officer will get a slap on the wrist for conduct unbecoming but even that will be overturned. Our military only holds you accountable for despicable actions if you are an expendable -- aka enlisted

Stuart, Planet Earth

5/9/2013 1:35:49 PM ET
There also needs to be culture of responsability and accountability. First review the careers of people who commit sexual assault and find out who is responsible for keeping them in the Air Force. Then make them accountable for their decisions.

Jerry, USA

5/9/2013 1:30:40 PM ET
He is an officer.....watch he'll get an offical reprimand that is part of his permanent records and be allowed to quietly retire......

SSgt J, Florida

5/9/2013 1:28:28 PM ET
As the spouse of a Airman that was raped when she was in the USAF by another menebr of the uSAF and her commander turned away by saying she shouldn't have been where she was I have to say everyone from the USAF Chief Of Staff who was involved in hiring this clown should step down right now. From my training I had in the USAF I'm sure Im sure he has committed his crime before and has a pattern of this type of behavior. GUEST It is mind numbing to think it's ok because he was drinking I spent over 24 years in the USAF as a USAF Recuiter TI and and a 1st Sgt I served with honor and always thought I've had enough what would it look like if me as a Recuiter TI or 1st Sgt got a DUIDWI. Grow up everyone

Ed, USA

5/9/2013 1:07:39 PM ET
No amount of education and training is going to help. People are going to choose to make mistakes no matter how much they're told it's unethical or against the law and no matter how much education or training they receive. A crime is a crime and you can't predict who or what crime will be committed. Do we send people to training on how not to become a burglary suspect Of course not. It's no different with this. Any more education or training is useless. It's already too much as it is.

Cop in Florida, Florida

5/9/2013 12:18:37 PM ET
Like it or not the military is a slice of society. Until society's culture is cleaned up these reprehenisible incidents will continue to occur. Unfortunately the military is not immune.

Tired of Mediocrity, VA

5/9/2013 11:22:30 AM ET
If you havent noticed there has been a shift is what is acceptable of the last 20 years or so. As responsible leaders adults and Airmen we need to see it right. Grabbing the breasts and bottom of a woman is no longer acceptable not that it ever was and is considered sexual assault. Rick if you claim you never saw that happen you are blind sir. Consent for sex after a few drinks is no longer consent either the person is impaired. It is now sexual assault. Catch up and come into the modern times.

BigTom, SWOK

5/9/2013 10:50:26 AM ET
I am not convinced that because education and training does not prevent all rapes it must prevent none. I agree that we need to do more and different things but I do not agree that training is obviously not helping anyone. Ret I still do not see how treating LGB and nonreligious airmen like humans is obviously linked to sexual assault.

Analyst, USAFA

5/9/2013 10:31:21 AM ET
@Jay I dont think that execution fits the crime. There is a set of criteria that must be met before the death penalty can be invoked and rape in and of itself does not fall into that category. I agree however that harsh punishment should be the norm. To GRH unfortunately it isnt just women in this category. Men are also victims of rape. BTW the word is woe.

SNCO Ret, Scott

5/9/2013 9:50:25 AM ET
@FB..I'm sure a whole lot of people would agree with you on that. @SB... these sexual assault cases increasing are in-fact a result of what you have stated. Key thing is removal of DADT increased it and not by a little.

Wolf-1, Earth

5/9/2013 7:09:14 AM ET
If the Secretary wants a culture of dignity and respect then do away with urinalysis observers. Let us not go half assed here.

FB, Data masked

5/9/2013 6:56:16 AM ET
Dignity and respect. Two things in short supply here at Wright-Patterson. Sad.

JGL, WPAFB OH

5/8/2013 5:13:38 PM ET
This will not end until troops that do this are BBQ'ed. Hard labor EVERY TIME. I'd even be for doing it the old fashoned way like George Washington and taking a few out in the field for execution. After a trial of course.Only when the punishment fits the crime and only when the results are broadcast to everyone will this stop

Jay SMSgt ret, DC

5/8/2013 4:47:00 PM ET
Rent a copy of the movie The Invisible War before you judge whether or not sexual assault is a significant problem in the military.

Dean Vinson, Ohio

5/8/2013 3:52:04 PM ET
In this concern over sexual assaultpreventation I believe the factor of alcohol is not given enough attention.

guest, Ohio

5/8/2013 3:43:39 PM ET
The fact that grown men don't know how to treat women with the same respect they would expect someone to treat their Sister or Mother with is absolutely mind-boggling. There is nothing acceptable in the military or civilian life for that matter when it comes to sexual assault. Putting your hands on someone when it is not invited is just plain wrong. Whoa be to you men who don't take this latest incident to heart. The President your Commander in Chief has issued an order that he demands prosecution to the fullest extent of the UCMJ. Dishonorable Discharge and military prison is the rule of the day. Whoa be to the next commander who gives the Airman a wink and a slap on the wrist that will be the end of their career too and rightly so. I hope that the Air Force weeds out every member who isn't on-board when it comes to sexual assault. There is no place in My Air Force and there certainly shouldn't be room in yours for this malignant behavior. Our women should never have to worry about

grh, Atlanta

5/8/2013 3:26:13 PM ET
Sexual assault is a compulsive irrational sexual behavior no amount of on-line training that people click through or silly SARC classes is going to bring a cure to the sick minds of the perpetrators. For some reason the AF SARC czar wasnt properly vetted before taking his staff job go figure. Im sure he has committed his crime before and has a pattern of this type of behavior. The AF needs to bring an end to the culture of CYA and weed out the riff raff. @Analyst I believe SB was drawing the obvious relationship between the acceptance of the civilian culture within the military the two dont mix well never have and for good reason.

Ret USAF, Texas

5/8/2013 1:37:47 PM ET
@Rick @Maj and others. I was in the Air Force about 27 months when I was first confronted with a Sexual Assualt not sure why we don't call it Rape anymore victim. I was working in an ER in a deployed location in SWA. She was not the first I have seen several more over the years in both the ER and as an acting 1st Sgt and Sq Supt. My hope is that the last young Airman who is close to my oldest daughter's age is last. It is my hope but I am also a realist. We need this to end and NOW

AF Medic, An AFB Near You

5/8/2013 12:10:23 PM ET
This does show that education and training are NOT solutions to the crime of sexual assault. I am sure no one in the Air Force had more education and training on the subject than the head of the Air Force sexual assault prevention and response effort. It is past time to rid the Air Force not only of the criminal but those in leadership who allow this to happen. I guess he thought if he got caught and convicted he could have the conviction overturned by his buddies in the Pentagon.

Don, USA

5/8/2013 11:45:46 AM ET
SB what on earth does treating LGB and nonreligious service members like humans have to do with sexual assault We are so extreme for wanting to for wanting our private lives left alone as we do our jobs. I more sharply condone sexual assault than some of my more traditional military lifestyle coworkers. The bottom line is that what we are currently doing is not working so we need to do more or something else to prevent sexual assault.

Analyst, USAFA

5/8/2013 11:25:06 AM ET
Just because you did not see it does not mean it did not happen. Sexual assault is one of the most underreported crimes.

Analyst, USAFA

5/8/2013 10:39:13 AM ET
@Rick...You sir are part of the problem. If you spent 33 yrs in the AF and never saw it then you had blinders on. I would even question whether you were participating in inappropriate acts yourself. And why does he have to be set up. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty. And if he is he deserves whatever punishment he gets. I just hope the punishment fits the crime. The problem with all this is the number of incidents that go unreported due people like you who refuse to see what is happening right in front of you.

SNCO, GA

5/8/2013 10:03:59 AM ET
For years the military culture and society was isolated and protected from the norms of the civilian sector. The military had a distinct culture all its own. However in recent years special interest and other groups with given agendas have been able to push their way into military policies and procedures. With gay rights anti-religious movements and the emergence of other extremists its no wonder we are seeing the military culture and values systems change. The more the military gives special recognition to separate groups the more it will lose its cohesiveness and own identity. I believe there are more military members and groups today that are trying to exert their individualism rather than trying to adapt to the military way of life this is a problem. While I dont condone bad behavior and poor character I can understand why it happens within an organization as large as the US Military.

SB, Texas

5/8/2013 9:52:52 AM ET
@Rick- not sure I buy into the whole conspiracy thing but I too have never witnessed or met a true sexual assault victim in the 20 years I've served. The fact is we do not need additional training or other preventative measures above what we already have in place.

Maj, staff

5/8/2013 8:34:17 AM ET
Sexual assault and prevention training in the Air Force is already in place and required way more often than the alleged problems that exists. I spent 33 years in the Air Force and never once witnessed nor heard of a sexual assault. And I did not have my head buried in the sand it just didnt happen. Period. I dont care if this offends those with an agenda. I served 33 years and never saw it. Yes I saw boorish behavior from both men and women but nothing that a reasonable person would define as an assault. This behavior however was nowhere near as bad as the killing of other human we were required to participate in regularly.Having said this has anyone considered the fact that this officer in question has been set up Consider thisHe was beat up. He appears to be drugged or intoxicated past a level reasonably expected for an officer at this stage of his career and life. He was vetted for a high-visibility position and he is suddenly accused of the very crim

Rick, Ohio

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