In the news, this morning was a second sexual misconduct case in as many weeks from an individual who was assigned to prevent the very thing he is accused of doing. This time it is the Army under the microscope. Apparently, the case involves a Sergeant First Class at Fort Hood, Texas. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel is one of the people blasting the Army. I think he is being unfair.
First, let me point out that soldiers do not usually pick their
assignments. People are assigned where needed. When I went to Vietnam as a young officer, The Army did not ask me if I wanted to go. They ordered and I went. When I got there, I was assigned as a platoon leader of an infantry platoon. Again, no one asked me if I wanted the job. The Army ordered and I went. Sometimes the Army does let people volunteer for assignments and they sometimes ask if someone wants the assignment. The Army was not a democracy; we did not vote on our duties.
I started my career in the late 60s during the Civil Rights Movement. The Army took civil right seriously. They created officer positions known as the Equal Opportunity Officer. They assigned minority officers to those positions. At that time, there were few minority officers. Many young, African American officers were assigned as EO officers. The Army never asked if they wanted the assignment. Many did not. It was not considered career enhancing. In addition, the Army did not check, nor could they, if these officers were opened minded about equal opportunity. The ones I met never wanted the job.
I do not know the facts in the Fort Hood case, but my guess is the SFC did not volunteer for the job. How would the Army know if the SFC was a sexual predator? If he had been brought up on charges earlier, he would have been discharged. Now the Secretary is criticizing the Army for doing its job.
When they identify a soldier involved in sexual misconduct, they persecute him or her. The Secretary should stand behind the leadership at Fort Hood for doing the right thing. There is no way to prevent sexual harassment 100%. We do the best we can. I think the Secretary is too worried about the bad press and not enough about justice.
First, let me point out that soldiers do not usually pick their
assignments. People are assigned where needed. When I went to Vietnam as a young officer, The Army did not ask me if I wanted to go. They ordered and I went. When I got there, I was assigned as a platoon leader of an infantry platoon. Again, no one asked me if I wanted the job. The Army ordered and I went. Sometimes the Army does let people volunteer for assignments and they sometimes ask if someone wants the assignment. The Army was not a democracy; we did not vote on our duties.
I started my career in the late 60s during the Civil Rights Movement. The Army took civil right seriously. They created officer positions known as the Equal Opportunity Officer. They assigned minority officers to those positions. At that time, there were few minority officers. Many young, African American officers were assigned as EO officers. The Army never asked if they wanted the assignment. Many did not. It was not considered career enhancing. In addition, the Army did not check, nor could they, if these officers were opened minded about equal opportunity. The ones I met never wanted the job.
I do not know the facts in the Fort Hood case, but my guess is the SFC did not volunteer for the job. How would the Army know if the SFC was a sexual predator? If he had been brought up on charges earlier, he would have been discharged. Now the Secretary is criticizing the Army for doing its job.
When they identify a soldier involved in sexual misconduct, they persecute him or her. The Secretary should stand behind the leadership at Fort Hood for doing the right thing. There is no way to prevent sexual harassment 100%. We do the best we can. I think the Secretary is too worried about the bad press and not enough about justice.
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