Hundreds of Marines investigated for sharing photos of naked colleagues
Source: Reveal News
The U.S. Department of Defense is investigating hundreds of Marines who used social media to solicit and share hundreds possibly thousands of naked photographs of women service members and veterans.
Since Jan. 30, more than two dozen women many on active duty, including officers and enlisted service members have been identified by their rank, full name and military duty station in photographs posted and linked to from a private Facebook page.
In one instance, a woman corporal in uniform was followed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina by a fellow Marine, who surreptitiously photographed her as she picked up her gear. Those photographs were posted online in the Facebook group Marines United, which has nearly 30,000 followers, drawing dozens of obscene comments.
One member of the Facebook group suggested the service member sneaking the photos should take her out back and pound her out. Others suggested more than vaginal sex:
Read more: https://www.revealnews.org/blog/hundreds-of-marines-investigated-for-sharing-photos-of-naked-colleagues/
Here is another link from the Marine Times:
https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/articles/marines-nude-photo-scandal
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)Or should that be: Commander in Thief?
riversedge
(69,727 posts)KittyWampus
(55,894 posts)Your comment ends up trivializing this.
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)One of many, but as the Commander in Chief he should be a positive example.
And I have previously read numerous stories about rape culture in the military. Why would you feel my comment would in any way trivialize the problem?
TygrBright
(20,733 posts)Daughter of a Marine who always told me that "Salty talk and sweet manners" was the Marine Way.
I'm glad he's not around to be disgusted and disappointed these Marines.
sadly,
Bright
Johnyawl
(3,205 posts)Last edited Sun Mar 5, 2017, 07:12 PM - Edit history (1)
And it's certainly the image that the Marines like to present to the public. However the reality is that the lower echelons (18-21 years old, E-1 to E3) are in some ways a giant frat house. A quote I saw recently on a Marine Corps humor site, said by a Marine about Marines doing stupid things "There's a fine line between military professionals and Lord of the Flies, and that line is boredom".
But the one thing every Marine knows is that the Corps HATES being embarrassed. They will tolerate a lot from their fighting men, but they will not tolerate public embarrassment and disgracing the Marines. These guys are in trouble. They've crossed a line and they will be punished.
On edit: In re-reading this it seemed like I was excusing, or downplaying the seriousness of this. That was not my intent. Sexual harassment, online bullying and threats of rape, torture and murder are serious crimes and require a serious response. Reading the article in the MarineCorpsTimes gives one a sense of just how shaken the Marines are about this.
John
USMC 1968-71
TygrBright
(20,733 posts)No, I did not read you as excusing or downplaying, nor do I have an over-idealized view of the young, dumb, and full-of-whatever echelons who get involved in the periodic hazing scandals and other criminal stupidities that are fairly inevitable in tightly-regimented, high-testosterone communities.
But something on this scale, involving so many, in such egregiously vile conduct toward fellow-Marines, definitely goes off the charts, and makes me think of a word: "Unbecoming."
I think this is going to go up the ladder a long ways.
And leave a very bad taste for a very long time, that will harm recruiting, esprit, and effectiveness.
sadly,
Bright
Johnyawl
(3,205 posts),,,but it will take a change in how the institution thinks of women.
As I said previously I'm on a Facebook page where the vast majority are young active duty Marines and veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. I'm constantly amazed, and encouraged for the future of this country, by what I read there. One of the things that astounded me was their nonchalance and acceptance of gay Marines. They don't have the same attitude about woman Marines, it is still a boys club. Gays can be one of the boys, but the women cannot be. That attitude is a reflection of the institution's attitude, and that attitude from the top down has to change for the Corps to recover from this.
I don't post much here at DU (2800 posts in 16 years lol) but I read it everyday. I've always enjoyed your posts, and missed you when you took a break. I'm glad you came back.
TygrBright
(20,733 posts)And for your insights on this story.
Most of my high post count actually goes back to the era when we had moderator teams and there was a forum for moderators to discuss moderating, difficult alerts, etc. You could rack up a lotta posts fast.
I do take breaks from time to time, per mental health requirements. It's nice to know that I'm missed.
If women are a bridge too far for Marines right now, perhaps this incident is the door to change being kicked in.
appreciatively,
Bright
Aristus
(66,096 posts)Aren't they taught to view other human beings as nothing more than things to be attacked and conquered?
sarge43
(28,939 posts)And yeah, a "pussy grabber" as CinC. Troops take their lead from command.
DK504
(3,847 posts)was done before he became Pee Pee Prez. But every single one of them needs a dishonorable discharge. This is unacceptable.
This is the reason my father wouldn't let me join....now I see why.
KittyWampus
(55,894 posts)behavior has been going on in the military since forever and has just gone the next step into filth.
It's more like Trump is just another example of what's already existent.
sarge43
(28,939 posts)I am well aware of the misogyny in the service having been on the receiving end of my fair share. I am also aware that the service has no corner on misogyny. As a former training instructor aka recruit wrangler I also know the service does not create it; it comes in carried by civilians who have been carefully taught. Until society as a whole says enough, there won't be much change in the service.
You're right; Trump is the next step. I said on 10 November I was concerned for servicewomen with that vulgarian as CinC.
Johnyawl
(3,205 posts)Where do people come up with this shit?
I also know nothing about Marine Corp training, but I assume most people get their views about the military from movies and TV shows. I guess it could also come from hearing about guys like General Mattis. I guess everyone just assumes all Marines are like him.
So, do you know anything about Marine Corp training? What does Marine Corp training actually teach people?
Johnyawl
(3,205 posts)Their training is not dissimilar from the Army's, the Marines are just more intense; the training is more physically and mentally challenging. Marines are not taught "to view other human beings as nothing more than things to be attacked and conquered". There's a great deal of emphasis put on honor, loyalty and comradery with your fellow Marines. The OP included a link to the Marine Corps Times, read that article to understand just how shaken the Corps is by this scandal.
And what have you heard about Mattis?
The Sand Reckoner
(194 posts)Honor, loyalty and comradely with your fellow Marines isn't sinking in too well.
And please, don't give me the "few bad apples bullshit". It's not just the people who did it. It's the many, many more people who tolerated it, overlooked it and kept silent about it while it was going on.
Johnyawl
(3,205 posts)...the attitude that women are not full Marines, which led directly to this incident, is institutional. And that has to change from the top down for the Marines to recover from this.
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)That applies to our culture collectively. When one in four American women are assaulted in this country, relegating your indictment to only one organization is lacking at best. The marines didn't invent 'boys will be boys...'
sarge43
(28,939 posts)Why did those creeps think they could get away with it, especially on a public forum like Face Book?
Agree, it may have come with them from civie world, but it doesn't seem to have been discouraged.
And threatening commissioned officers?! They asleep during the UCMJ briefings? That's court martial level stupid.
Johnyawl
(3,205 posts)I'm an old guy, my service was 40+ years ago, but I read the Facebook pages that are run by and for the young guys, the current Marines and the veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, ALL of the active duty Marines know that their social media posts are occasionally viewed by their superiors. They can be brought up on charges based on their social media postings.
The Marines that did this are scum, online bullies and trolls, and if they are still on active duty they are stupid scum. Read the article on the MarineCorpsTimes site that the OP linked to. The site that this started on is a private page, with both active duty Marines and Marine Corps veterans.
sarge43
(28,939 posts)The scum broke federal law, worse embarrassed the Corps. Don't think claims of privacy will save them, especially when the head hunters suit up.
The Sand Reckoner
(194 posts)while it was going on and said nothing should be court martialed. Or at the very least, dishonorably discharged.
JudyM
(29,122 posts)whathehell
(28,969 posts)Just wondering.
sarge43
(28,939 posts)whathehell
(28,969 posts)That would be ridiculous.
sarge43
(28,939 posts)Did have to share one shower/latrine a couple of times.
RedWedge
(618 posts)randr
(12,408 posts)and they are following his lead.
KittyWampus
(55,894 posts)milestogo
(16,829 posts)erpowers
(9,350 posts)Each Marine involved in this issue should be demoted and court martialed.
bathroommonkey76
(3,827 posts)The Sand Reckoner
(194 posts)What's your point?
bathroommonkey76
(3,827 posts)The Sand Reckoner
(194 posts)Why would they tolerate any level of this kind of disloyalty?
obamanut2012
(25,911 posts)bathroommonkey76
(3,827 posts)Skittles
(152,965 posts)and without exception, they'd all be horrified if the pictures were their wives, girlfriends, sisters, daughters
DISGUSTING
Lanius
(599 posts)But we know that the military -- like law enforcement, business and other professions -- has its share of delinquents, sociopaths, sadists, sexists, misanthropes and other deviants.
Johnyawl
(3,205 posts)If we can't keep them out of the White House - and the congress - how can we keep them out of the military?
And I hate the way the right has corrupted the word "Hero". A hero is someone who has done something heroic. I served three years in the Marines, I fought in Vietnam. I never did anything heroic. Merely serving and surviving does not make one a hero. I'm quite happy just being a veteran.
ProfessorGAC
(64,425 posts)Thank you Johnyawl!! Someone like me, who wasn't military says this, and could easily get construed as being a hater.
But, i'm so glad you, as a vet, from the 'Nam era (so a few years older than me) said it, because that's the absolute truth. My dad was in during Korea. He was, however, a corporal then sergeant in the medical corps as a medic and translator in occupied Italy. He was not the least bit reluctant to say one didn't need to be a hero to work in Naples and Rome during peacetime, especially in a hospital.
Like i said, when here AAI insurance talk about giving vets better service because of their sacrifice, i get annoyed in this era of all volunteer service. And also knowing my US rep misrepresented his time in Iraq because he was a supply officer in Kuwait but was never closer than 300 miles from combat, (then talked about his "war record" has something to do with my distaste for what you're describing.
This guy isn't a hero. He's a liar. Nothing heroic about that.
JennyMominFL
(218 posts)I posted about my experiences as a woman Marine on here a while ago. This behavior does not surprise me, nor is it new
RedWedge
(618 posts)nitpicker
(7,153 posts)Marines' nude photo scandal could lead to significant jail time
By: Andrew deGrandpre and Jeff Schogol, March 6, 2017
WASHINGTON Military investigators are contemplating felony criminal charges for an unspecified number of U.S. Marines who participated in a secretive social media group that metastasized into a distribution pipeline for sharing nude photos of their female coworkers and a sordid message board where some allegedly encouraged one another to commit rape.
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service on Monday confirmed that the agency is working to determine whether felony charges are warranted. A spokesman, Ed Buice, declined to provide further details or disclose how many people are being investigated but said the probe, ongoing for weeks, could include active-duty personnel, military veterans and those unaffiliated with the military. NCIS routinely works with state and local law enforcement, Buice said.
(snip)
Any military personnel found to have posted compromising photos without consent could be charged with indecent viewing, visual recording or broadcasting, a violation of military law that carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison, said Marine Corps spokeswoman Capt. Ryan Alvis.
(snip)
Potentially hundreds of active-duty Marines and military veterans may be caught up in the scandal, made public Saturday night when journalist and Marine Corps veteran Thomas James Brennan published an explosive investigative piece on the website Reveal. The images were shared via a secretive Facebook group called Marines Untied, which included nearly 30,000 members before it was disabled.
(snip)
Prosecuting military personnel accused of distributing nude photos without consent would be "relatively straightforward" under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, said Rachel VanLandingham, a retired Air Force officer and judge advocate who now teaches at Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles. So would prosecuting those who may have hacked social media accounts to steal women's photos, she said. Voyeurs alone could be a different story.
"It may be more difficult for the military to prosecute those who simply were members of this closed Facebook group and passively viewed photos," VanLandingham noted. "Officers wont be difficult to charge, ... as they are held to a higher standard and knew, or should have known, those photos were unauthorized. However, for prosecuting enlisted members ... for conduct that is service discrediting or prejudicial to good order and discipline for simply viewing the photos, the government will likely have to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that they actually knew the photos were unauthorized. Perhaps this is easy to show based on the details under each photo and elsewhere on the site," she added, "but perhaps not."
(snip)