Top US general drops opposition to change in military’s sex assault policy May 3 Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley arrives to the chamber ahead of President Joe Biden speaking to a joint session of Congress on April 28, 2021, in the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (Melina Mara/The Washington Post via AP, Pool) WASHINGTON In a potentially significant shift in the debate over combating sexual assault in the military, the nation’s top general says he is dropping his opposition to a proposal to take decisions on sexual assault prosecution out of the hands of commanders.
New Fort Hood Report May Help Change Sexual Assault Prosecutions
Spc. Vanessa Guillén’s sexual harassment was reported by three soldiers. Command failed to act.
Assistant Editor, Defense One
As support mounts to move investigations of military sexual assault and harassment out of the chain of command, the most recent investigation into the murder of Spc. Vanessa Guillén at Fort Hood has provided further evidence for those who say military commanders cannot handle cases of sexual harassment in the ranks.
Guillén told several people she was sexually harassed by a supervisor in the summer of 2019, says the U.S. Army Forces Command report, released Friday. Another supervisor noticed Guillén’s demeanor change and asked her if she was OK. Guillén reported the harassment to that supervisor, and shared the incident with a handful of other close peers and her family. The same supervisor who harassed Guillén that summer did so again soon after.
Youngstown Air Reserve Station is wrapping up its recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month after several activities throughout April. ,
Sexual Assault Awareness Month kicked off at the beginning of April at the University of Kansas with the theme âWe Can Build Safe Online Spaces,â intended to raise awareness of the fact that sexual assault, harassment and abuse can also happen on online platforms, not just through physical contact.Â
Jen Brockman, director of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Education Center, said that the educational programs start the awareness conversation on campus. These programs include âJayhawks Give a Flock,â âConsent @ KU,â âSex, Drugs and Alcoholâ and âSexual Violence Recognition and Response.âÂ
âSAPEC provides primary education for sexual violence, intimitate partner violence and stalking,â Brockman said. âWe work with both undergrad and graduate students in a variety of education based programs.