The Sexual Assaults in the Military
Is anyone watching the sexual assaults hearing? If you are not it seems that the top brass of the military is gearing up to fight against legislation to take the decision of whether or not to prosecute sexual assaults in the military out of the hands of military leadership. A number of the leaders have spoken including Army Chief of Staff Ray Ordenerino, Cheif of Naval Operations Admiral Jonathan Greenert, and Marine Corps Commandant General John Amos. Each man asked that military commanders not be relieved of the power to decide whether or not to prosecute sexual assault cases. Each gave a list of things that changed in the military under the direction of military commanders. General Amos along with those that spoke before him noted how military commanders tackled racism. General Amos also discussed how military commanders dealt with drug use in the military.
The Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General Mark Welsh, acknowledge that he agreed with the previous military leaders in opposing the legislation, but he did not try to make the case as strongly. He later said that he had sisters and a mother and they set his moral compass on the issue.
The Commandant of the Coast Guard, Admiral Robert J. Papp, Jr., returned to making a strong case for not taking away a commander's power to decide to prosecute a case. He stated that he was troubled by the legislation that was attempting to take away a commander's power to decide to prosecute a case.
