MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Honor- Courage-Commitment: these pillars form the foundation of who we are as Marines; what we stand for, what we believe and almost as importantly – what the Nation has come to expect from us. However, in the last few years there has been the slow growth of an insidious, festering, cancer - sexual assaults within our ranks.
According to the National Institute of Justice, one in 33 men and one in six women reported experiencing an attempted or completed rape at some time in their lives. We also know that almost 70 percent of victims know their attacker. It’s not just the victim who suffers, but also the entire unit when there is a sexual assault. Trust among Marines and faith in this great institution are destroyed with every sexual assault that occurs. To help combat sexual assaults, the Department of Defense instituted some initiatives.
Every battalion and squadron-sized Marine unit has at least one Uniformed Victim Advocate assigned to help lessen the stress of a sexual assault. UVAs are Marines or sailors that have been trained and are able to offer victims assistance in three main areas: support, providing information about the different reporting options afforded them, and referrals to a multitude of different resources – both on base and in the local civilian community. Although UVAs are not counselors, they do help victims navigate the system and can put the victims in touch with licensed, certified counselors and professionally trained victim advocates.
Marines are mandated to report violations of the Uniformed Code of Military Justice and would have to report their knowledge of any crime to the command, but if you have been the victim of a sexual assault, the UVA has been granted confidentiality if you report the crime directly to him or her.
Marine Corps Order 1752.5A directs that sexual assault prevention training and education both in the active and reserve components, take place on an annual basis. As leaders, you have the right and responsibility to make this readiness issue a consistent part of your regular safety stand downs.
Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James T. Conway, recently released White Letter 02/09 and spoke directly to the need for all commanders to get involved in the prevention of sexual assaults. It begins with every Marine’s and sailor’s commitment to not participate in behavior that is inconsistent with our ethos. Marines and sailors must have the moral courage to step in and speak up when they see things getting out of hand. Marines do not leave wounded Marines on the battlefield, so you should not turn your back on a fellow Marine in a social situation. Remember, even being convicted of “attempted” sexual assault could possibly result in your having to register in the Federal Sex Offender Registry.
Sexual assault is a crime, and unlike the neatly packaged 60 minute televised versions of the offenses, victims are left physically, mentally, and emotionally traumatized. This societal problem has no place in the Marine Corps. It will take honor, courage and the commitment of the commandant, every commanding general, commander, officer, staff noncommissioned officer, Marine and sailor to step in and do what they can to prevent sexual assaults from occurring and to hold perpetrators who wear the uniform accountable for their behaviors.