Sexual assault in the military is more than a political problem

The U.S. Marine Corps is investigating allegations of an unspecified number of Marines and potentially veterans that allegedly distributed nude photos of female colleagues, and other women, as part of a social media network; these charges illuminate that sexual misconduct is still a very real problem for the U.S. military.

The Facebook page, Marines United is the subject of a current and ongoing military investigation that has made national media headlines; it has also resurrected the issue of military sexual violence into the foreground of problems that Congress, the Administration, and the Defense Department must address.

Marines United has regenerated serious issues that policymakers have been unable to resolve to the satisfaction of the public, advocacy groups concerned that gender discrimination exists within the military ranks, and policy makers that now cannot stand by idly without taking action.

{mosads}Sexual assault in the military is more than a political problem, it is a violation of each branches values. Over the last few years, many national headlines and investigative reports have revealed the military’s inability to combat sexual assault in the ranks, and , steady a military justice system which holds assailants accountable.

The Pentagon’s own surveys have found more than half of women who reported being sexually assaulted experienced retaliation. Further, The Department of Defense’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO) 2015 report showed 75 percent of the men and women in uniform who have been sexually assaulted lack the confidence needed in the military justice system to come forward and report crimes of this nature.

We have a problem. Our military, and thus our nation, would be well served to endorse proven solutions that can actually stop these problems from decaying both our military readiness, and our troop’s morale. There is good news here and it is not far from eyesight but policy makers must grab hold of it.

A solution exists, but it will require significant attention throughout this Congress, and the support from the Armed Services Committees, Appropriations Committees, and the new Administration. Congress and Defense leaders must fund the sexual assault prevention programs that are wielding quantitative success and brandishing results.

Some work has begun, but it must be done faster, and at a larger scale. Increasing funding for key programs must be authorized by both the appropriations committees and Department of Defense leaders in order to achieve performance metrics that prove sexual assaults are being significantly reduced, and some efforts do appear to be working.

The Department of Defense has invested in some unique approaches which show quantitative and anecdotal evidence that results are being achieved– and they are worth acknowledging.

The Department of Defense is implementing programs which are currently being provided at very beginning of the military life-cycle– basic training recruiting units– in which contracted professional trainers engage our recruits on tough topics such as military sexual assault in an effort to promote integrity and awareness from the outset of their military careers.

While similar programs existed when I completed U.S. Army basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri in 2002, they have become more engaging and sophisticated than previous iterations, and these investments appear to be working. These programs have evolved from the stale “death by powerpoint” presentations experienced as recently as 2002, to engaging and dynamic sessions that have summoned participation from our troops– and the reactions have been positive from those who attended the training.

Chicago-Based Catharsis Productions (CP) is a provider, and poignant example of, the evolved prevention-focused sexual assault prevention training the Department of Defense is utilizing which is reaching our troops early in their training life-cycle– and it’s working.

Until this higher order training is truly ubiquitous throughout the military branches we are not going to share in the success of reduced sexual assault statistics and likely going to be faced with future scandals. We need to implement the best research driven tactics because the days of a “stale” powerpoint presentation are not working in too many corners of the military I proudly served in.

Catharsis Productions’ (based out of Chicago and already serving our military) approach is rooted in psychology, education, and cognition, and led by professional presenters who have a drive and passion for evaporating this nation-wide problem. 

Through engagement, honesty, and a nonjudgmental environment (that even mixes humor and common social topics) CP’s professional staff are challenging the pillars of the status quo that led to the problematic culture that first necessitated broad debate in Congress about how to eliminate sexual assault within the military.

As congressional staff and policymakers on Capitol Hill often say “metrics matter”, and according to the Navy’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office; Catharsis Production’s program has, for example, contributed to a 73 percent reduction in anonymous reports of sexual assault at Great Lakes Naval Base north of Chicago.

Something is working as these evolved approaches to old problems are connected with the military audience it is tailored to impact; policy makers should be practical and double down on utilizing these modern programs more broadly at the Department of Defense and across the federal government.

Congress will likely look at hearings and await investigation details and pundits will debate whether or not this is a small scale or large scale scandal– but it is urgent that Defense and Congress take the long view—realize they already have programs on the ground that are working– and enhance their current scale of operations to prevent these scandals and let our military focus on what it is purposed for– readiness for war fighting and national defense.

Christopher Neiweem is an Iraq War veteran, President of Neiweem Group LLC, and one of the nation’s leading military policy analysts. He has served as an expert witness before Congress in both the House and Senate and appeared on dozens of media platforms, TV, and print news to include: FOX News, CNN, the LA Times, Huffington Post, Military.com and the Dallas Morning News.

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