Posted: 16 Nov 98:
I am a female Army recruiter. It seems like everyday in this job I run into some type of discrimination or harassment. I do not know if it is because USAREC (United States Army Recruiting Command) is composed mostly of former combat soldiers or is so distant from the rest of the Army. I constantly hear that the Army wants more females recruiters and have them place in community to improve the Army's image but how can they do that when females recruiters are being harassed. As a female recruiter, I have been ask to challenge male recruits or even flirt with them to influence them to enlist. I constantly hear remarks such as: I am combat arms sergeant and do not know why the Army needs women; I will never enlist a female; why did all of the females who deploy to Saudi have yeast infections; women bodies look horrible in BDUs (it covers too much); women in the Army are sweaty; most women in the Army are either lesbian or easy, and all women really want is two men to have sex with them at the same time. I personally have been referred to as the bitch, or had statements said to me as such: she wants special attention, watch what you say around her, she must be having PMS, and your ribbons must be uncomfortable the way they set upon your chest. When I try to make a complaint with my chain of commands (naturally, all males), I am coerced to agree that I have a problem or I am just taking these remarks out of context. I tried to use EO from battalion to USAREC level, all EO representative advised me to try to work things out with my current chain of command since it was only my word against theirs. Bottom line nothing works!
Posted 28 Sep 98: "What Can I Do?"
Things have been rough lately. A new sergeant arrived at our base and made some sexual advances toward me. I reported him. The problem is, he is friends with my commander and thus my commander started making things miserable. This occurred when my husband was gone for his month 1/2 training he does every 6 months. At one point I was required to attend a meeting after a long day. I had a night class later on with lots of homework to finish. The meeting did not start on time and we were waiting a very long time. The captain saw I was looking a bit frustrated and proceeded to tell me jokes from across the room. I said "Sir, I have had a bad day and don't feel like jokes, sir." Some of the people in the room laughed, but captain got mad and called me into his office. To make a long story short he is now trying to make me lose a rank with pay because of this. The sergeant I reported had a couple other incidents against him right after the one with me and he has nothing done against him. I believe this is truly harassment the problem is if I contest the article 15 and lose in court martial it will always be on my record. All this for one bad day on an otherwise perfect record and just because I turned down a sergeant? What should I do? What can I do?
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Posted 22 Sep 98:
I a female Staff Sergeant in the Army. I have over ten years of active duty. I was selected for recruiting duty and have been recruiting for over two years. When I arrived at my recruiting station, I was the only female. The station had a history of failure for the last couple of years. I implied the same qualities it takes to be a successful NCO to recruiting and immediately became successful. This created a small amount of resentment between the male recruiters and myself. A change in my immediate leadership stirred that blaze of resentment into a hostile work environment. I thought I was doing the right thing by utilizing my chain of command. Boy, I was wrong. My chain of command blamed for being a female for the problems of the recruiting station. For over a year, I was harass mentally, verbally, and physically along with being lied and patronized for being a female by my entire chain of command. Another change of immediate leadership as a result of relief of the previous one, resorted in racial harassment. So at this point, I am stilling dealing with a combination of racial and sexual harassment. I do not trust my command or any element of this organization. At times, the harassment was so severe, that I developed an ulcers, chronic stomach problem, weight gain and hair loss. This has affected my job performance and personally changed my views of on the Army. I have always been 100% dedicated to my mission and to the welfare of my soldiers. I also had faith in the Army and believe that my leaders were fair and impartial. When hearing about issues of harassment with other women, I would always think that they should have use their chain of command, EO or IG. I guess I never believe this would actual happen to me. It did and all of those agencies failed. When they fail you, who do you turn to? It really hurts and you cannot help but feeling all alone. My only option is to get out of the Army or in other words just give up.
Posted: 14 Sep 98: "Sexual Harassment isn't the only thing that goes on, How about Sexual Discrimination?"
I spent 9 years in the USAF, and did not hear about any sexual harassment, but I did hear about sexual discrimination. I was discriminated against while working in the Chapel. You will probably react as they did when I filed the complaint with Social Action. This could not have happened in the Chapel. I'm here to tell you it did. It took me three years to get the creep supervisor of mine, but I was persistent and he was crazy. It all started very simply with remarks about women being barefoot and pregnant in kitchen. I would blow off those remarks, taking into account about were they were coming from. This went on for a couple of months, it got worse when I told him I was pregnant. Mind you I was doing my job, and never complained about the duty, until one day my supervisor had the nerve to call me and my husband (who was also on active duty at the time) into his office and tell me you either get out on your pregnancy or I'll find a way to get you out. Possibly failure to train. Because of this jerk I went into prelabor, and was consequently hospitalized and put on bedrest for the duration of my pregnancy. If it had not been for my just getting totally ticked off, I may have given into his demands. But, I followed through. It took three long years and the help of a young priest, who also submitted a complaint to social actions to get this guy. My supervisor had 18 years in and could have retired if he'd just behaved himself like a good NCO. The end result was his court-martial, being busted from an E-6 to and Airman Basic forfeit of all pay, a fine of $5000.00 and two years of hard labor at Leavenworth KS, and a dishonorable discharge. So I would like to say to all you young men and women on active duty, reserves, and guard; if you feel you have been Sexually Harassed or Discriminated against, don't let intimidation prevent you from filing charges with the appropriate agency. It's a tough, and hard road but the end result is you self-worth and dignity, no matter how things turn out. It's never worth letting someone get the best of you just because they out rank you. Never let someone violate you and get away with it. I'll say it again. It took me three long and rough three years to get the jerk but because I hung tough and refused to let him intimidate me, I won, and kept my self respect and career, which he did not. thanks for listening.
Posted: 9 Sep 98: "Sexual Harassment Has Created Widespread, Long-Range Anguish"
It should be clear by now that sexual harassment and discrimination are crimes against humanity, as are slavery, war or hate crimes. It is because these behaviors were ever tolerated by even one person that falsely-accused people are now becoming trapped and convicted within the framework of the statues that were erected to address such hate crimes.
I would rather have thanked our demeritorious predecessors for not tolerating these crimes, thereby saving us the shame of being falsely accused, convicted and punished; however, things being the way they were and are, I am not at liberty to do so.
Posted: 8 Sep 98: "Let's punish everyone equally"
I am a young black (male) officer in the United States Navy and to hear some of the stereotypes of black men's sexual tastes towards white women is really a shock to me and it hurts me in alot of ways. I do not want to be viewed that way and I can speak for all of my fellow black men that I know and we are all very disappointed and hurt by the actions of a few.
I feel like I must avoid white women to somewhat overcompensate because of the actions of people in the past and I am somewhat nervous about counseling my enlisted female personnel by myself because I do not want to be accused of harassment. It does affect everyone when individuals mess up. I know it is definitely not just black men who harass women. It is people of all different colors and backgrounds. I wish it would stop.
My perception is that there are alot of people out there who can't wait to bust a black man for messing around with a white woman while alot of crimes by white males go unnoticed. I could be wrong, but that is my perception. The last major sexual harassment cases that made national news were black enlisted men from the Army. In the Navy, we had a senior black officer who was up for Admiral (is a SEAL) get reprimanded for sexual harassment. Another black Admiral was forced to retire for having an affair with a Master Chief's wife who happened to be white. These incidents all made national news and they were all black men who were involved with white women. I know it is wrong and very unprofessional for these men to have acted this way, but it does seem like it is only blacks that are being punished for it. Let's punish everyone equally, Thank you.
Posted: 31 Aug 98: "Action against abuse in the military"
I was in the Navy many years ago and had a problem with sexual abuse at a recruiting station, back then it wasn't really looked at that much. I reported one incident and of course no one believed me. I find it so ironic that people choose to look the other way when someone is in a high position and your at the bottom of the list and they tend to believe that person. Of course this individual went to Captain's mast but was let off. I was humiliated and after that incident I no longer believed in the system, although the XO believed me he would be the only one the Captain was at that time a female and I couldn't believe that she didn't investigate this man. At other center's this man harassed other women and they refused to say anything because they still had to work around this individual. She never really looked into this and I believe they system failed. I was disappointed. Previous to this harassment, I was harassed earlier in my recruiting center and another senior person got under my desk and asked me what I had under my skirt at that time, I did nothing . Some other senior members got mad at me for saying nothing and asked why didn't I kick him in the face at that time I felt he was senior to me and what could I do. I did nothing .
Then this other incident happened and I then decided to report it and like said in the beginning look where it got me, very very disappointed
Posted: 31 Aug 98:
I am a 44 year old retiree from the Navy. I served Honorably for 21 years. I encountered so many people for that 21 years that were sexually oriented that I got physically sick. I had a black LT who was having an affair, had a beautiful wife and child. He made advances towards me and I told him if he ever did it again I would slap the hell right out of him. After that my name was mud and keep in mind that I was the LPO, Education Officer, Career Counselor Etc. Then one day came when I caught he and his girlfriend together, on top of his desk. That really p>>>>d him off. He wanted to know why I was at work at 5:30 pm and I said I was doing what he told me had to be done that day before I left. He said "well not this late at night!". I had a female LT who asked for pity because her civilian husband was a wife beater. I let her in my home and kept her safe. Then when I had to leave the next morning early she was still there. At 3:00pm I called home and found out she was still there and she had tried to get my husband to go to bed with her! She was my D. O. He said hurry and get back home, please.
I could give you time after time. But beware, and stand up for your rights. When I did...I was wrong the officer or chief was right, end of subject!!!
Posted: 27 Jul 98: "Vote Now -- Bills to Stop Violence Against Women"
E-mail me, your STAMP Legislative Coordinator, "drsph@aol.com", if you need help contacting your senators or representatives. Congress will be voting on this the week of July 27-31, 1998. You can e-mail this letter; it is best to follow up with a hard copy.
July 22, 1998
The Honorable Senator or Congresswoman / Congressman
Senate Office Building or US House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20510 20515
Re: Vote Yes
S. 2110 Violence Against Women Act, and inclusion of House
version H.R. 3514, Subtitle V, Violence Against Women in the
Military System, in S. 2110.
S. 2132 Wellstone amendments to Department of Defense Appropriations, to enhance protections, services and benefits to victims of violence in the Armed Forces.
Domestic Violence Offender Gun Ban- and OPPOSE exemption of any offender, or weakening of the ban.
Dear Senator or Congresswoman / Congressman
As a constituent of yours, I am writing to urge you and your colleagues to vote for these bills to protect the rights of abused civilian and military women. These bills under consideration are vital to the health and safety of women. Military spouses and active duty women in effect have little to no protection of their Constitutional rights by virtue of their association with the military and its rigid jurisdiction. I ask the women of the Senate and House to stand to speak to the lack of a rape shield law in the Uniform Code of Military Justice and to these other issues to protect women and children.
I urge you to support S. 2110, Violence Against Women Act. and the inclusion of H.R. 3514 Subtitle V, Violence Against Women in the Military System. I wholeheartedly support the two provisions which entail health care benefits during a transitional compensation period and overseas jurisdictional issues. I applaud the Senate for approving the health care benefits portion amendment proposed by Senator Wellstone recently. The Senate and House versions differ in their approach to overseas jurisdiction. I urge you to advocate for adoption of the House version, as the Senate version provides for concurrent jurisdiction which basically maintain the status quo.
I would especially encourage you and your colleagues to support the Wellstone amendments to S. 2132, Department of Defense Appropriations, which will enhance protections, services and benefits to victims of violence in the Armed Forces. I strongly support the provisions for military and state court protective orders, eligibility for transitional compensation when felony convictions in state courts result and confidentiality of communications between victims and service providers. As these amendments are expected to be debated next week when the Senate continues deliberations on DoD Appropriations, I urge you to make this a priority. Sexual predators (interesting note, it is not applicable to the military at present), patient rights, contraceptive availability under certain health insurers, children's gun violence prevention act and child care initiatives are extremely important issues which I urge you address before Congress adjourns this summer.
Please support the Domestic Violence Offender Gun Ban. Several bills have been introduced which will negate the ban, especially in the military. Please urge your colleagues not to weaken Domestic Violence Offender Gun ban by exempting police officers, government employees and members of military from the ban.
I look forward to following up with your staff on these bills.
Sincerely,
Name:________________________________________________________________
Street:________________________________________________________________
City, State,
Zip___________________________________________________________________
Posted: 29 Jun 98:
If you have experienced harrassment or assault while a member of the Canadian Forces, or by a member of the CF, please call and report the incident :
English 1-800 290-1019
French 1-800 290-0893"
Posted: 22 Apr 98: "In response to McKinney verdict"
I am interested to learn reactions about the verdict that Sgt. Major McKinney was found not guilty of sexual misconduct by a jury of military personnel. What does this imply about the military's response to sexual harassment and sexual assault allegations? What do you think the impact of this verdict will be? How would you rate the military's response to the issues of sexual harassment and sexual assault?
I value your feedback as I have been researching these issues for over a year I am also concluding a nationwide study on the military's response to sexual assault and harassment.
If you would like to speak out on this topic and to provide a response for inclusion in the study, you may respond here or send your comments to me by e-mail at tsnelson@one.net (or you can send anonymous comments c/o P.O. Box 251, Oxford, Ohio 45056). Your comments may appear in published or other research, but your identity will remain confidential.
Your feedback is very important and you need not use your name to include your response. Please know, my intention is to disseminate this information nationally, so keep that in mind as you consider whether or not you want to speak out on this issue.
Thanks so much for your support and assistance. If you have questions, you may also e-mail me. In peace, Terri Spahr Nelson, MSSW, ACSW (U.S.A. '79-'83)
Posted: 22 Apr 98: "Sexual Assault within the military"
Sexual assault just doesn't happen to individual women that are servicing in the military. It also happens to servicemen's wives by individuals that are in the service, such as doctors in the service taking advantage of servicemen wives and children. So many are over looked by the Hospital Commanders, Base Commanders and the Attorney Office. I was a wife of a military man who was assaulted by a military doctor 23 years ago. Although I reported to the Hospital Commander he did not believe me. At the time I wanted justice for this act but my former husband now wouldn't let me file a report with the Base Attorneys or State Attorneys for this crime. Because it would be his career at stake. I find to this date that I still survive the pain of not being able to have justice from this military doctor assaulting me. Five years ago my two daughters were sexual harassed by a military doctor. I reported it to the Base Attorney's Office but it was overlooked as the doctor doing his job. I feel that the government failed me and my children as a human being and person. I was betrayed by the doctor, commander, my husband and the Government of the United States of America. Those who are supposed to protect the people of the United States failed at their job to protect me and how many other women that saw this military doctor. The military government is good about covering up crime within their system. If you like more information please free to contact me by e-mail. To this day I want justice, but I know that it will never happen because it is the Government.
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Posted: 10 Apr 98: "Workplace and BUPERS Sexual Discrimination"
I would like to be contacted by any Navy doctor who was either passed for department head or "involuntarily extended" due to her pregnancy or overseas orders in the last 4 years.
I am trying to assemble evidence for a possible class action vs BUPERS and the Navy for violating their own rules.
We have here 1 doctor and one nurse who have been punished by being forced to "extend" beyond their EOS due to a pregnancy. We also have two female doctors who were extended by orders beyond their EOS, while male doctors are being let out on time.
Please, only the serious need reply. Thank You, lwaxman@sunnynet.or.jp
Posted: 7 Mar 98: "Military's Response to Sexual Assault/Harassment"
I am currently in the last phase of collecting feedback from any active duty, retired military and vets re: the military's response to sexual assault and/or sexual harassment. Final deadline for this nationwide study is 4/15/98. If you would like to respond, please refer to my msg. at the military women message center posted 1/2/98 or e-mail me with your comments. I would also be willing to e-mail or first class mail additional information about the study to you upon request.
Please note, this is a privately funded (and genuine) study which is not associated with the government in any way. All inquiries sent to me will remain confidential.
Thanks so much to the courageous women and men who have already spoken out on this issue. Your input is very important. I hope this will have a positive impact. With much gratitude and respect,
Terri Spahr Nelson, MSSW, ACSW (U.S. Army, '79-'83)
Posted: 23 Feb 98: "From a Take care of myself, un-harassed, Spearhead Soldier!!!!!!"
The first thing I want to say is that I know there are women in the Military that have really been sexually harassed or raped. But I really believe that is a small percentage.
1. Girls, we need to take some responsibility for our actions. I've been in the Army for 10 years and I've seen it all. I know what young girls, away from home for the first time, with tons of guys around, act like. And if your out getting drunk with the guys.... now come on!
2. I've got a sure fire way to stop sexual harassment....Put on about 300 pounds and quit bathing. Now everyone follow my advice and we will abolish sexual harassment!
Posted: 2 Feb 98: "Response to 4 Nov 97"
One of the Airmen involved went on to Airman Leadership School. While there she routinely made racial and sexist comments and bragged about how she had been caught having sex in the dorm with another woman. Her use of vulgarity was to the extreme. She routinely made comments concerning race and stated how things always boiled down to a black/white thing. She freely spoke about the female and male anatomy in derogatory terms while in class and in the presence of her instructors. There was a complaint against her to the sexual harassment hotline but I doubt if anything was done to her. She was investigated for sexual harassment and also homosexual conduct. She, many times, spoke about what she likes to do to women (sexually). Her command, an dismissed her conduct and alleged she was a supertroop. Not one of the ALS instructors wanted to get involved with her as far as addressing her behavior.
In this particular case, race had been player in this. I realize and so does the original poster that not "all" minorities falsely accuse. However, anyone, and I do mean anyone, who uses their ethnic background or gender to launch false allegations trivialize true offenses that do occur.
You sound very defensive when it was mentioned that someone of color personally chose to use their ethnic background as leverage to take down another person. Well, it wouldn't have mattered what color the person was, it happened, and race was a player in this case. And, if you knew all of the issues and details in regards to this incident you would have been able to understand. Instead, you closed your mind to any of the comments because you became offended that someone relayed an experience where an individual did abuse her gender and ethnic background.
I do believe you should have read the posting objectively instead of reacting to something that you are obviously very sensitive and defensive about. Like it or not, this incident happened, and the other details of the case are very, very sad. The woman (and her family) who posted the original comments have suffered a series of traumatic events as a result of these two airmen.
Posted: 26 Jan 98:
Hi, I'm a writer for a national women's magazine working on a story about sexual harassment in the workplace, schools, and medical offices. If anyone reading this message was sexually harassed while in military service and would be willing to be interviewed about the experience, please e-mail me at Kteem@aol.com. Each answer is very helpful and I really appreciate it. However, I probably will only be able to respond to those that fit the exact specifics of what I need. If privacy is a problem, your name does not have to be used in the article. Thank you very much for your assistance, Katie M.
Posted: 9 Jan 98: "Sexual Discrimination"
My story is not about harassment it is discrimination but I want to share my outrage. I just applied for warrant officer school a little while ago (about 6 months) and was not selected because I didn't have enough operational experience. I was, at the time, not working within the scope of my MOS and had not been for a year and one half. I was short 3 months experience. Anyway, I immediately talked to my commander and got transferred to a position that is within my MOS and am preparing to re-apply. However, a month or so ago I was telling my tale of woe to a former officemate an E-7 and he said, "Geez, that sucks. If you hadn't been pregnant they never would have stuck you in that job. No one in the section you should have gone to wanted a pregnant female." When I asked him why he didn't tell me then or stand up and say how wrong that was, he said he did but no one listened. As an E-7 you'd think he'd know how to get heard. I want to level an EO complaint but most of the decision makers involved have PCSed and nothing will change my situation so I hesitate but boy does it get my dander up!!!!!
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