Sexual Abuse in the US Military

Sexual abuse of children is rampant in America. While numbers are trending down, they remain horrific. Best guess of child sexual molestation by adults in the United States is around 20% for all kids. Higher for girls; lower for boys. The true statistic may be higher or lower; vast underreporting is both probable and unmeasureable.

People wronged as children lose their adult framework for what is right. Abused by family members and adult friends, they learn all the wrong lessons as a child – lessons they carry into adulthood.

To get away from abusive households, many young men and women join the military. Because our military draws its members from the population as a whole, when 20% of Americans are victims of sexual abuse, we must expect a similar percentage of America’s military to bear the same scars.

As a result, too many soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines don’t know the boundaries for acceptable behavior towards the opposite sex. Lacking a sound compass, they inevitably practice the same abuses as adults that they experienced as children.

President Obama and Defense Secretary Hagel have called for zero tolerance of sexual abuse in the US military. This goal is right and proper. It is achievable. The challenge is getting from 20% to 0%.

Unfortunately, young people in the military ridicule today’s initial steps to counter sexual abuse. They don’t want more PowerPoint lectures. They don’t see the effectiveness of more threats and negative incentives (e.g., get caught and you’re finished). Young service members see these steps as necessary but insufficient. What they want a comprehensive education program that starts in boot camp and is reinforced throughout every military career.

Fortunately, such a successful model already exists.

The US military is superb at leadership development. Leaders are created NOT though a single PowerPoint lecture. Leaders are NOT developed though negative incentives (e.g., sink-or-swim; successfully lead or you’re finished). Rather, leaders are educated, trained, mentored, measured and positively incentivized at every step from squad leader to flag officer. Leadership development in the US military is a science, not a lecture. It is a thorough process, not a temporary focus area.

The US military needs a similar process to counter the horrific rates of child abuse in American society that inevitably manifest themselves in too many service members. Such a program is not cheap and quick. It will take time, talent and money to build, execute and refine. It will require professionals dedicated to success and rewarded for positive results.

Anyone committed to ending sexual abuse in the military must commit to long-term campaign. The model for leadership development in the US military is a proven path to move America and its military to its goal of zero sexual abuse.