Posted on Jul 19, 2020
Watchdog, lawmakers blast VA’s sexual harassment policies as inadequate
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"Watchdog, lawmakers blast VA’s sexual harassment policies as inadequate."
MY COMMENT:
Sexual harrassment policies and practices will ALWAYS be inadaquate in the military. Human nature will not allow a perfect world free from all harassment, either between or among the genders. The very best we can do is model acceptable behavior and swiftly but fairly deal with infractions. Training is essential, but must include internal language that clearly communicates unwanted and unwelcome actions. In the long term, the DoD must accept the fact that in certain instances, men and women should NOT be put together, such as combat arms. Those of you who know me have heard this argument before, that I feel combat arms should be SEGREGATED, with all-male and all-female units, just like when we divide boys and girls, men and women in sports, starting at about 12-13 years of age. We do that for many reasons, including nature's call, but it is a best practice for effectiveness and efficiency. The most athletic males are only slightly better than the most athletic females. The most athletic females are better than most males. Other countries have used all-female units effectively, so can we. Women are capable and exemplary soldiers, sailors, Marines, Coast Guard and Air Force personnel. Some have demonstrated their bravery and achievement in combat, like SGT Leigh Ann Hester, awarded the Silver Star in Iraq in 2005. Serious about sexual harassment and assault? Prove it. Have the COURAGE to do something that is proven to work. Hooah!
MY COMMENT:
Sexual harrassment policies and practices will ALWAYS be inadaquate in the military. Human nature will not allow a perfect world free from all harassment, either between or among the genders. The very best we can do is model acceptable behavior and swiftly but fairly deal with infractions. Training is essential, but must include internal language that clearly communicates unwanted and unwelcome actions. In the long term, the DoD must accept the fact that in certain instances, men and women should NOT be put together, such as combat arms. Those of you who know me have heard this argument before, that I feel combat arms should be SEGREGATED, with all-male and all-female units, just like when we divide boys and girls, men and women in sports, starting at about 12-13 years of age. We do that for many reasons, including nature's call, but it is a best practice for effectiveness and efficiency. The most athletic males are only slightly better than the most athletic females. The most athletic females are better than most males. Other countries have used all-female units effectively, so can we. Women are capable and exemplary soldiers, sailors, Marines, Coast Guard and Air Force personnel. Some have demonstrated their bravery and achievement in combat, like SGT Leigh Ann Hester, awarded the Silver Star in Iraq in 2005. Serious about sexual harassment and assault? Prove it. Have the COURAGE to do something that is proven to work. Hooah!
Watchdog, lawmakers blast VA’s sexual harassment policies as inadequate
Posted from militarytimes.comPosted in these groups: 
Women in the Military
Sexual Assault
Sexual Harassment
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Women in the Military Sexual Assault Sexual Harassment Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
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Too many times I've seen when we conducted training such as sexual harassment or suicide prevention you can look around the room and see the disinterest in people. Training in my experience had become a simple 'check in the box' type training because we had to do it. Instructors spend time and effort preparing training to education and inform our personnel but it's "in one ear and out the other." I look at crime and the individual committing it and wonder how they got to that point. I know they were taught to treat others with respect but somehow, for many different reasons, that doesn't stick with them. My wife is a pastor and she and her female colleagues face harassment with simple comments such as "she is a pretty pastor" or "she looks good in that outfit". Male pastors and much less likely to face comments such as those. I agree that human nature will not allow a perfect world. But how we make it less imperfect is the challenge; how do we really protect those from harassment?
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MAJ Montgomery Granger of course they are inadequate. And we reached over saturation with mandatory briefings, I think it would be a bit better if MST survivors were to present this topic with details and how it changed our lives
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SSG (Join to see)
Had that happen a few years back at a SHARP summit in Italy. We had 3 or 4 male MST survivors to tell their story to show it happens to men too.
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