Across all Service Branches, sexual assault offenses are often unreported due to the Military Code of Silence Fraternization Regulation . When sexual assault is reported between Senior Leadership and Subordinates, they are often conducted without proper procedure resulting in reprimand to the victim, dismissed and/or covered up.
The victims, who are the Subordinates are shamed and blamed. Regardless of the education to Senior Leadership of what abuse of power looks like. The power difference between a Senior Leader and a subordinate is too extreme for the ability to consent.
By revising the UCMJs terms of Fraternization to Statutory Rape, Senior Leadership cannot use the excuse that they were seduced, that the junior enlisted didnt say no, that by laying down the junior enlisted to consent. By revising this regulation, Senior Leadership will be forced to have good judgement, leadership and accountability. This regulation revision would apply to the following:
- Non-Commissioned Offficer sexually engaging with Junior Enlisted
- Senior Officers sexually engaging with Junior Officers
- Officers sexually engaging with Enlisted
We need to stop blaming victims. Rape is considered an Occupational Hazard according to the Department of Defense. We need to fight for our soldiers who protect us, to change that.
