Blogging for America

To end sexual assault in the military will go a LONG way to ending sexual violence in our society, but its not easy changing patriarchal and the cult of masculinity. It can be done, IMHO. The immediate change would be to remove the commanding officers from the current military legal process--superior officers do not want black marks on their watch, so they tend to squelch complaints of sexual violence. The complaints should go directly to the respective JAG units--they are the ones charged with upholding justice in the military. To make this change would require the various branches of the military to change their administrative practices--the Pentagon under the command of the Commander in Chief and on the urging of Congress & the can make such changes, or Congress can pass a bill requiring such a move. Second, all officers and military personnel should not allow such behavior. Third, all officer and military personnel should undergo diversity training on a regular basis which includes information about power, gender, violence, abuse and a reminder that most people have mothers, grandmothers, wives, husbands, daughters, sons, brothers, sisters, etc. who deserve to be treated with respect and equally (a feminist conc ept, and why all should be feminists). Research has found that there is also high rate of domestic violence and abuse among military families. Fourth,anger management training needs to be also included regularly in trainings and updates Fifth, people who violate others should be held accountable for their actions. More long term, we all need to grow more feminist sons and daughters. See http://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/gillibrand-collins-boxer-johanns-benishek-gabbard-begich-blumenthal-coons-franken-hirono-mikulski-pryor-schatz-shaheen-rockefeller-feinstein-hanna-sinema-joined-by-service-members-victimized-by-sexual-assault-in-announcing-bicameral-legislation-reforming-military-justice-system