From feministing.com:
http://feministing.com/archives/005569.htmlThis is pretty horrifying stuff. An investigation done by the Associated Press found that “more than 80 military recruiters were disciplined last year for sexual misconduct with potential enlistees.”
Over 100 women who wanted to join the military this year were abused by recruiters--raped, assaulted, and groped.
...The cases occurred across all branches of the military and in all regions of the country.
"This should never be allowed to happen," said one 18-year-old victim. "The recruiter had all the power. He had the uniform. He had my future. I trusted him."Check out these stats:
The Army, which accounts for almost half of the military, has had 722 recruiters accused of rape and sexual misconduct since 1996.
At least 35 Army recruiters, 18 Marine Corps recruiters, 18 Navy recruiters and 12 Air Force recruiters were disciplined for sexual misconduct or other inappropriate behavior with potential enlistees in 2005.Some of the recruiters say that the misconduct was nothing more than consensual romantic relationships--not assault. But the power differential--not to mention the ages of the women (most were between 16-18 years old)--makes that kind of a lame-ass excuse.
...Recruiters insist the victims were interested in them, and sometimes the victims agree. Sometimes they even dated.
"I was persuaded into doing something that I didn't necessarily want to do, but I did it willingly," said Kelly Chase, now a Marine Corps combat photographer, whose testimony helped convict a recruiter of sexual misconduct last year.
Anita Sanchez, director of communications at the Miles Foundation, a national advocacy group for victims of violence in the military, bristles at the idea that the enlistees, even if they flirt or ask to date recruiters, are willingly having sex with them.
"You have a recruiter who can enable you to join the service or not join the service. That has life-changing implications for you as a high school student or college student," she said. "If she does not do this her life will be seriously impacted. Instead of getting training and an education, she might end up a dishwasher."
..."Any recruiter that would try to claim that, 'Oh, it's consensual,' they are lying, they are lying through their teeth," said former Marine Corps recruiter Ethan Walker. "The recruiter has all the power in these situations."...
More at link.
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