Introduction
For many years, the frequency of sexual assaults in the U.S. Army has been a chronic and alarming problem. The urgency of the problem is dictated by the important goals of the armed forces, on which the security and well-being of the entire population of the country depends. While the number of cases continues to grow positively, it is necessary to consider the main determinants of these phenomena. The hierarchical structure, the consequences of the war, the lack of information about prevention and the vast majority of men in the army are the main causes of this problem.
Causes of Sexual Assault Within the Military Context
Military Hierarchical Structure and Power Dynamics
First of all, sexual assault may be made more likely by the military’s hierarchical structure and the power dynamics it fosters. Due to the hierarchy of the military, there are pronounced power disparities between officers and enlisted men (Skopp et al., 2020). In this case, the permissiveness of the leadership becomes an obligatory factor in the atmosphere in the army institute, with all the ensuing negative consequences (Skopp et al., 2020). In such a culture, persons in positions of authority could think they can get away with such behavior, while victims can be afraid of retaliation if they speak up.
Male-Dominated Institution
Secondly, because the military is a male-dominated institution, sexual assault may be devalued and even encouraged in some quarters. Although not every man is involved in such crimes, the general dynamics of the gender orientation of the problem is noticeable: the victims, as a rule, cannot do anything in their defense (Skopp et al., 2020).
Tension and Anguish of War
Thirdly, sexual assault might be influenced by the tension and anguish of war. Combat veterans often face a range of mental health issues, including depression and post-traumatic stress (Carpenter et al., 2022; Skopp et al., 2020). Risky behavior, including sexual assault, may result from this. As a consequence of the identified problems, they are aggravated by craving for alcohol or drugs, which also contributes to misbehavior in conditions of altered consciousness against the background of illness.
Lack of Effective Preventive Mechanisms
Fourthly, there are no or poorly developed various preventive mechanisms that victims can oppose to violence. There are currently a number of such training programs and practices among the military, but growing statistics continue to point to the need to expand such activities. In other instances, training could be perceived as a pointless exercise rather than a sincere attempt to alter culture and stop sexual assault (Carpenter et al., 2022).
Trust Issues with Reporting and Investigative Processes
Also, many soldiers might not take the instruction seriously if they do not think that a sexual assault is a serious problem. The reporting and investigative process for sexual assault cases may also not be trusted (Carpenter et al., 2022; Skopp et al., 2020). When they worry about reprisals or think the system will not take their complaint seriously, victims may not report the crime. It can be assumed that individuals in positions of authority will defend their own instead of seeking justice for the victim.
Conclusion
The indicated problem is multi-criteria and complex and requires elaboration in several directions at once. You can’t just focus on the consequences of subordination due to a hierarchical structure, or increase control over veterans who are mentally unstable due to the war. The fight strategy that is being formed should include the efforts of all stakeholders, which will form a culture of intolerance towards sexual violence, prevent attempts and strengthen the role of legislation and the judiciary for better protection of victims and strictness in this regard in the army.
References
Carpenter, E. R., Gonzalez, I., Garcia, S., & Odom, G. J. (2022). The effect of changing the military’s sexual assault laws on law enforcement investigative findings in the US Army. Law and Human Behavior, 46(4), 313.
Skopp, N. A., Roggenkamp, H., Hoyt, T. V., Major, H. M., & Williams, T. J. (2020). Army Sexual Harassment/Sexual Assault Response & Prevention Program (SHARP) Tiger Team: A Model to Inform Prevention. Military Behavioral Health, 8(1), 64-73. Web.