To many the news of
Military Sexual Trauma is a recent development, recent epidemic, unfortunately
it is not. While I was in the military, over 20 years ago, sexual assault was a
problem back then too. There are hundreds of thousands of survivors of MST,
both men and women.
I have been asked if
the military itself is a culture for sexual assault. I do not believe so. I
have met thousands of service members and veterans who served (are serving)
honorably. There are problems within the military, but before anyone comes up
with changing the whole system, we need to think. The military is not any other
type of organization and that needs to be understood first off. Some concepts,
rules and regulations that would not be considered at all in the civilian work
world must continue in the military. I have not yet completely made up my mind
on the suggestion that reports of sexual assault be taken out of military jurisdiction
and placed under civilian authority. As being a survivor, I do understand the want
to not allow commanders the ability to dismiss reports or to slap wrists for
sexual assault; but I also understand the reason behind the commander having
such powers of immediate punishment.
I
listened to the hours of the House Armed Services Committee hearings and can
see there is a lot of lip service from the branches, but I also see that many
well-intended people do not fully grasp the mission of the military with many
of their suggestions.
Before
looking into the culture of the military, we should look at what has happened
to our American culture. First off let me make this very clear – women and men
are not the same and never will be. We can be treated equally but that is not
what many so called feminist are perpetuating. Many feminist are advocating far
beyond what used to be the definition of feminist. They are trying to
neutralize the physical and spiritual differences between men and women. It
does not matter how high you try and yell that women and men are the same, we
are not, and we are not supposed to be. It is a fact that there are
differences, physically, chemically and spiritually between men and women.
Our
culture has had a serious attack on the family and morality, yet it seems many
do not see the connection between that and the downward spiral that this
country is in. One of the first things all the branches can do is to raise the
standards of entry in the service. When any of the branches does not get near
its quota they lower the standards and allow substandard applicants in, this
creates a substandard soldier. No person who has been convicted of sexual
assault should ever be allowed into the military, as well as certain other
offenses. The military is not a place for people to fix their own issues, or
escape from whatever is going on in their life. The military needs to make sure
the people going in are physically and mentally well. The military does not
need to be seen as a “last resort” for anyone. It needs to be looked upon as a
choice on the same level as a good job, and even schooling.
The
moral attack on our culture can easily be seen by looking at the television
with such shows coming on as Pregnant and Dating and new terms like “baby
daddy.” I know the very mention of morality and people begin to start saying
that I am just a hater. Let me explain something very carefully so that is in
no way taken out of context. My moral values and beliefs do not mean that I
hate anyone. I can say fully that I know many homosexuals and I care for them,
but their behavior is immoral, period. I have acquaintances who I stand next to
on many issues, who are in relationships (man and woman) and are not married
but living together, that also is immoral. I am tired of hearing that my
beliefs are somehow equal to hatred of others, they are not. I can discuss many
issues with facts and stats and beliefs without calling anyone else a derogatory
name. This country (whether some want to remember or not) was founded on
Christian values. Oh, and if anyone wants to actually discuss the issue of
church and state (without name calling and make sure you know history) I have
no problems. Many people do not actually look into what they have heard, they
do not question what is told to them, they just accept it. I am a firm believer
that the world is getting warmer; I am not at all on the side that we are the
reason for it. I have seen real research, not fluffed up articles, and it is
not a cause and effect. The earth actually has gone through many warm and
cooling spells, long before we were here, why would that change now? I find it
astonishing that many have never read one single true research paper and call
others names who do not agree with the human caused green-house global warming
concept. As a researcher, that is what I like to do, look at the data, not what
another has interpreted the data to mean.
Another
way that the branches can stop giving just lip service that they are doing
everything they can to decrease sexual assaults is to discharge (not honorably
or even General under honorable conditions) anyone who has been convicted of
sexual assault. For convictions I am referring to any type – if they agree to
an Article 15 instead of court martial, or the commander has given a lesser
punishment, they should automatically be put in for a discharge.
And
the last, yet will be the most denied as well as fought to keep – stop the mandatory
and accepted drinking parties. It is not that drinking causes assaults, but we
all know what alcohol does to the brain. That was pretty much the thing to do
in the military, drink, especially in my career field – cops seemed to drink
excessively. The military needs to understand that the still accepted way of
dealing with trauma and stress, drinking, needs to change. It is a weaker
person who reaches for the bottle than to ask for help. The stigma and myths of
mental illness needs to be taught though out the branches. Posttraumatic Stress
Disorder should not be considered a disorder. It is a normally reaction to an abnormal
event.
Again,
I still have not decided that the correct route is to take the authority away
from commanders. There are programs that are in place at this time, they are
just in trial mode, but they seem to have potential. Unfortunately along with
well-meaning people there are those who are jumping on the wagon with other
agendas. I will not stand idly by and allow this; I shall call them out when I
come across them. MST has nothing to do with how many women are in the
military, or where they are posted. MST has nothing to do with homosexuality.
MST is about power, control, humiliation, and anger; let us all remember that.https://www.createspace.com/pub/simplesitesearch.search.do?sitesearch_query=understanding+mst&sitesearch_type=STORE
