Why are we failing to address toxic environments that lead to harassment in units?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 May 2022 09:47:02 -0400

I really find this difficult to read. The CPT made horrific comments about a Soldier prior to the assault and he was not reported. Then he went on some sort of trip and brought her along so he could assault her. After all of this, he can retire. This is why so many don't trust the military when it comes to situations like this. They "take care" of the suspect because he was a "good guy." I would really question that unit and their commanders. I was in Jordan for what I believe to be the same mission. This CPT has been in the Army long enough to know what was right but he did not care. I am sure this wasn't the first time he acted in such a way. With such brazen behavior I am sure these type of behavior was accepted and only reported when they felt they had no other choice.

He walked away with a pension when he used his career to enable the assault.

https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2022/05/18/officer-motorboated-subordinate-at-promotion-ceremony-retires-after-guilty-plea/

Officer ‘motorboated’ subordinate at promotion ceremony, retires after guilty plea

A plea deal let the officer keep his retirement, court records revealed.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2022 11:09 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 May 2022 11:09:36 -0400

And also there is a difference when it comes to punishment for Enlisted and Officers and that should not be the case...

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2022 11:41 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 May 2022 11:41:47 -0400

Besides the obvious questions of how this behavior and assault could happen....the big question I now have is HOW IN THE HELL could the prosecution even allow that plea deal to happen? As a SNCO, not only am I shocked and appalled by the behavior, this has dropped my faith in the system even more. I don't care if his record of service prior to this was great...he straight up pissed on it. Took a mad dump on his service. Hell, his Leaders pissed on the military by not taking proper actions. He should have been burned the moment he said what he said about why he wanted to take that female on that road trip in Jordan.

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made May 20 at 2022 12:55 PM

SFC Kelly Fuerhoff — Fri, 20 May 2022 12:55:34 -0400

Well - the former I Corps Chief of Staff was arrested and charged with multiple charges after he had a 2 hour stand off with the police after assaulting his wife in front of their children - and threatened the police even - and the Army allowed him to retire before his criminal proceedings were done. Honorably...and then it came out about how he was also a toxic leader prior as well.

Now with this douchebag - wow. Just wow. I don't understand how the prosecution offered any plea deal at all though. The only thing I can think of is if the victim didn't want to testify.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2022 1:10 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 May 2022 13:10:54 -0400

Different spanks, for different ranks.

We can scoff at it, we can make jokes, but we all need to realize it's true. I've seen it, I work legal, of course I've seen it. I've watched commanders flip flop on the same exact crime and give preference to Soldiers who should have long past lost it even though by virtue of rank the people with more stripes or more brass should know better. Hey, bet they can run fast though.

We don't even have a system set up to reduce bad officers, but we can reduce enlisted. Hell I've seen cases where officers resign their commission and just go away with nothing happening.

Troops talk, I know sometimes NCO's and officers forget that they do in the moment, but we all know the lower enlisted and the junior officers see more than people might realize. So when stuff occurs, regardless of what they tell the MP's, CID, or the IO the truth runs free and so does the rumor mill.

For that reason I highly support releasing public Justice Reports down to the company level. Not every unit sees them, many units are not even aware of them. It does help people knowing that more than just PFC Snuffy got on trouble for doing something dumb. The system still is anything but equally fair, but the reports help a bit.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2022 2:44 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 May 2022 14:44:51 -0400

One of the…legacy…problems of National Guard units is that once a bad culture settles into a unit it takes a long, long time to root it out. Since the Guard doesn’t PCS soldiers tend to stay for a while or leave and come back, especially in low density MOS’s.

This guy *probably* did this because several leadership iterations ago leaders created a climate where this was tolerated. And he likely grew up in that unit. Also in the NG, enlisted soldiers who commission often come right back to the same unit as a PL.

Familiarity breeds it’s own kind of strength and esprit de corps but it also allows stuff like this to snowball. And anyone who comes along and tries to stamp it out is often viewed as the problem.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2022 10:07 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 May 2022 22:07:04 -0400

We are seeing consequences of these things in our day to day operations. We essentially have a simulated SHARP exercise every few months. Yes? A victim and offender will roll play, and then blind side someone in leadership with a simulated situation and that unknowing leader will have to jump through the hoops and execute the actions needed to respond accordingly. All the while the SHARP rep for the unit is taking notes to submit to higher command.

The funniest thing I saw in the Army regarding this kind of training was an Army produced training video of what not to do. It included young soldiers playing strip poker, and a rather attractive female soldier in this video was in her underwear. Now, what made this soooooo funny was that this portion of the video was CLIPPED and uploaded to the classified server so soldiers could watch the "good stuff" over and over again.

CATCH A F'ING CLUE ARMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Response by CPL Sheila Lewis made Mar 14 at 2023 10:52 AM

CPL Sheila Lewis — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 10:52:42 -0400

There are toxic work environments in the civilian sector as well.

Response by CPL Sheila Lewis made Mar 14 at 2023 10:53 AM

CPL Sheila Lewis — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 10:53:24 -0400

I am currently in one.