Sexual Assaults

I do think sexual assaults are happening both at normal colleges and the service academies. According to a brochure that I stumbled across yesterday at the base legal office, it stated that 25% of women are sexually assaulted while in college. That number horrified me.

I do think it is still a problem at the service academies today. Why else would there be so many restricted reports filed every year? Restricted reports are confidential.

Now for some fuzzy math:

For female cadet x who would have entered USAFA in 2007 and graduated in 2011, there were 78 reports of sexual assault during those 4 years. Assuming that the wing is comprised of 22% female (or about 968 females), that would be 8% reported being sexually assaulted.

Now according to the 2010 Service Academy Gender Relations Survey the cadets fill out, about 146 female cadets reported unwanted sexual contact which would be 15%.

Reasons why incidents may go unreported (from the 2010 SAGR):
  • high-profile cases of sexual assault deter other victims from reporting
  • knowledge that reporting an experience often results in media scrutiny might deter some students from coming forward
  • victims of sexual assault at the academies have to be concerned not only with the social reaction to their reporting but also any professional consequences
  • One deterrent to victim's coming forward to report their experience can be a concern that they will not be believed that they have been victimized. One rape myth associated with female victims is that women “cry rape” to avoid punishment or after making a regrettable decision (e.g., falsely report they have been sexually assaulted). To the extent that a victim believes that her report will be perceived by her peers in this manner, this can act as a deterrent to reporting.
  • Victim blaming is the perception that an individual contributed to or “invited” an assault to occur as a result of his or her dress, behavior, etc. ...victim blaming could be a deterrent to reporting.
  • Often sexual assault cases lack witnesses or physical evidence that can confirm an assault occurred. When victims of sexual assault make the decision to report their experience, one factor they make take into account is whether they will be believed if it is their word against the offenders. The reputation of a student who reports a sexual assault has a strong influence on his or her credibility, as does the reputation of the offender. This is important because it could lead victims of sexual assault who are not generally liked by their peers or who have reported sexual assault or harassment in the past to be less credible in the eyes of their peers.
A lot of those reasons have been mentioned in this thread.

Now for alcohol...data from the 2010 SAGR...percent of women who indicated alcohol/drug involvement in unwanted sexual contact:
  • USMA: 51% overall (67% senior, 60% Junior, 35% Sophomore, 56% freshman)
  • USNA: 65% overall (70%, 93%, 68%, 17%)
  • USAFA: 48% overall (86%, 33%, 41%, 44%)
  • USCGA: 50% overall
 
Scout:

Is a violation of military regulations subject to dismissal from an Academy or only a conduct violation as interpreted to be included in the Honor Concept and considered by the Hearing Board and established over and above the enumerated infractions of normal military regulations. Article 15 violations would not be subject to dismissal under normal circumstances only "Company Punishment".

"Honor Violations" seem to be subjective and include both Honor Concepts and Regs with a great deal of leeway. The Honor Concept seems to cover a wide area and means what the Board says it means.

If I may, consider Honor violation and Regulation violation as no double jeopardy and different jurisdiction.

A cadet lies - can we separate this cadet under UCMJ under conduct unbecoming? a better answer is the honor code.

A cadet buys alcohol for an underage cadet - can we separate this cadet under the honor code? a better answer is UCMJ.
 
http://www.sapr.mil/media/pdf/research/FINAL_2011_SAGR_Focus_Groups_Report.pdf

The link above is the report that has cadet comments. It has their reasons for reporting and not reporting. It explains why cadets don't go to the medical clinic for help (they announce in a non private setting, "why are you here?"). It has advice for incoming cadets (USMA page 18, USNA page 61, USAFA page 108, USCGA page 152).

I think it is worth a quick read.
 
An e-mail sent out on behalf of the AETC commander to all of us under AETC today:

Fellow AETC Airmen,

Integrity First - it's our first core value and the cornerstone of our
ability to eliminate sexual assault from our service. Integrity is about
doing the right thing and as we focus our attention on sexual assault this
month, we must renew our commitment to uphold the dignity of, and respect
for, every human being.

I want to be very clear; there is no room in the Air Force for sexual
assault. It undermines everything we believe in. It weakens the trust the
American people have in us as individuals and as an institution. It is a
crime and will not be tolerated.

I expect every member of AETC to foster and support a culture that is based
on dignity and respect and does not tolerate sexual assault. We must do all
we can to ensure victims feel comfortable coming forward and are not
victimized a second time by our attitudes and behavior. Our Sexual Assault
Response Coordinators, medical, legal and investigative communities help in
these efforts, but it is up to each of us to be leaders in this fight
against sexual assault. This reemphasizes my Jan 2011 policy on this topic.
Integrity First - doing the right thing--let's all do our part to eliminate
sexual assault from our Service.

EDWARD A. RICE, JR.
General, USAF
Commander, Air Education and Training Command
 
On the topic subject, the Academy wrapped up another court martial of a MIDN yesterday. The accused MIDN was found guilty of wrongful sexual contact, but not guilty of rape. Sentencing is scheduled for next week.

Maximum Punishment for Wrongful Sexual Contact: Dishonorable Discharge (Dismissal), confinement for 1 yr, and forfeiture of all pay and allowances.

Maximum Punishment for Rape: Dishonorable Discharge (Dismissal), death or confinement for Life, and forfeiture of all pay and allowances.

http://www.navytimes.com/news/2012/04/navy-midshipman-sex-case-sentencing-postponed-042812w/

Naval Academy midshipmen dismissed following conviction for wrongful sexual contact

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — A Naval Academy midshipman has been dismissed from service after he was found guilty of wrongful sexual contact by a military court.

Midshipman 1st Class Matthew Cook of Traskwood, Ark., was convicted last week on charges related to an alleged off-campus rape of a female midshipman in August 2010.

The 24-year-old senior was, however, acquitted on charges of aggravated sexual assault stemming from the incident, which was reported in March 2011.

A spokesman for the Naval Academy says the dismissal of a midshipman is comparable to a dishonorable discharge for regular military personnel.
 
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