Military Review English Edition November-December 2013 | Page 73

WITHIN OUR RANKS
If the chain of command doesn’t demonstrate
that it can and will hold violators of SHARP
accountable and protect its soldiers, sexual harassment and assault victims will be less likely to
report abuse, promoting a culture of intimidation
and corruption.
Identify the operational environment in
which sexual predators seek to initiate and
develop their campaign and strategy. The same
way insurgents attempt to blend in among the local
populace or security forces, sexual predators often
stay near their peers. There is no “rapist”-tab worn
on the left shoulder to identify sexual predators.
Assailants are frequently stellar, married soldiers,
often highly regarded by their chain of command,
and whose accusation comes as a great surprise. As
leaders, it is crucial to recognize that competence
does not equal character. Throughout our Armed
Forces, you can find many individuals who are
proficient at their jobs, but morally corrupt.
Understanding how these individuals think and
operate is the first step in countering the threat and

(DOD)

47 percent indicated they or their offender had
been drinking alcohol before the incident.24 Additionally, of the 1.2 percent of men who indicated
experiencing unwanted sexual contact, 19 percent
indicated they or their offender had been drinking
alcohol before the incident.25 Many perpetrators
capitalize on the diminished judgment of the
victim, using coercion to achieve their objective.
A more deliberate weapon used in sexual
assaults is a date rape drug, which quickly incapacitates the victim, eliminating the victim’s
ability to resist any unwanted sexual advances.
Understanding the weapons and tactics used can
help identify effective preventative measures.
Assailants attempt to discredit their victims,
hoping the fear of potential shame and embarrassment associated with assaults of this nature
will prevent victims from pressing charges. Other
predators attempt to intimidate their victims by
undermining the command structure and convincing the victims that any attempt to report abuse
would have serious repercussions.

MILITARY REVIEW

• November-December 2013

71