Army's New Efforts in Sexual Assault Epidemic
From Ring of Fire:
The Army has disqualified 588 soldiers from holding “positions of trust” as sexual assault counselors, recruiters, and drill sergeants, USA TODAY reports. The US military has faced multiple public scandals over the past few years, prompting officials to order a crackdown on the sexual assault issue within all branches of the military.
Soldiers were disqualified for infractions such as sexual assault, child abuse, and drunk driving. The number of soldiers disqualified is 10 times higher than the initial number the Army reported last summer after Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced “a set of measures to reform the military justice system” including increased screenings for those in sensitive positions.
In December, President Obama directed the military to address its sexual assault epidemic or face tougher reforms, saying the military has “an urgent obligation” to punish perpetrators of sexual assault. During 2013, several cases of military sexual assault were made public, highlighting an environment of victim-blaming and cover-ups.
You can read the full article here at Ring of Fire.