Ëmãíl From My Congresswomen Re:Women in Uniform

[privateinvestor]

I just received an email this AM from Jackie Speier and Susan Davis asking us old retired military to get involved in support for our women in uniform because apparently woman in the US military are much more likely to be raped by their fellow soldiers than killed by enemy fighters. Then I just found out that military health care coverage does not cover abortion in the case of rape.

This is a tough one for me but was asked by Ms Speier to pass this on for further action or support.

I enjoy controversial issues and this is one, I guess..

[handyman2]

The government talks out of both sides of it's mouth. Wants pro abortion and then treats our finest as a step child. Makes you wonder what their real agenda is. I personally believe that if a woman is raped and becomes prenant from that rape she should be taken care of if that is her choice. You wonder just how stupid our system can get.

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

...it is a tough one... but I still say no federal money for abortions...

[privateinvestor]

What has Ms Speier so pissed off is that the federal government covers abortions in the instance of rape for other federal employees, Medicaid recipients and those serving in prison but NOT to female service members....so I didn't know this but not sure what asking old retired military to write the Pentagon is going to do...or my senator because the GOP House Rules Committee will not discuss this issue and if I write the Commandant of the USMC he will just toss my letter in the trash can...but anyone I thought this issue would get the juices flowing today here because military rape is a big deal with the women in the military and getting worse.

[cereb]

Women in service of our country should have the option of choice funded just like every other fed employee.

[privateinvestor]

Ms Speier says that women in the military risks of assault doubles and there is too much covering up by the Pentagon because they have so much power of these women's lives. The stats include young low ranking enlisted women and if they become pregnant they must pay for the abortion....

I had no idea that this was such a big deal in the military...I had heard rumors but this is the first time a member of congress took this issue on and she wanted to amend the National Defense Authorization Act but she was politically incorrect told to shove it..

[privateinvestor]

Jun 3, 2011 11:13:35 GMT -5 cereb said:

Women in service of our country should have the option of choice funded just like every other fed employee.

No this was shut down without any debate allowed by the GOP House Rules Committee including Dems....I think even the Hyde Amendment allows coverage in the case of rape, or incest...if I am not mistaken??

However ..rape, incest, and abortions are not subjects that I am very knowledgeable about in the military..this issue is like the crazy old aunt in the attic of your home..everyone know she is up there ranting and raving but we all ignore her..

[deziloooooo]

It was brought up here some time ago if I remember..possible the old format, but sexual attacks in the military, soldier on soldier, and while a occasional male on male, basically the victim is the female military one by a male military one, is very high.

Over the average in civilian life and how it is handled in many case at the unit and above level is not positive, meaning believing the story, and when it has been proven, reported correctly, samples of the attack taken as is done today, with smears, evidence collection, at the scene, medical facilities, so many times, reassignments, basically burying away, and in so many cases the victim is victimized again by the military system'

Following their career where they go and in many cases forcing these victims to opt out for leaving the services, before they would want to, even if that was not in their plans.

That they are also not protected in case of a Pregnancy from a attack is not something that is not a given , I was not aware, is a disgrace, and any one , political right, left, who would not support such protection and forcing some one to carry to term is despicable, government funds for the procedure, abortion, or not.

One doesn't have to be familiar and knowledgeable in these cases, just know in ones minds and hearts, it is not right, a horrible way to treat a service member and simply object to this over site and support the change in this mis carrying of justice? A no brainer...and to not support such coverage, protection to these young ladies if they find themselves in this situation because of such a attack, one has to question if they have any brains at all if they don't feel changes are needed and support such changes vociferously.

I am glad to see these female representatives getting on the problem, possible being females they understand the problem on a personal level better then their male counterparts though that is no excuse, lack of attention by the males collegues and would hope to see some of them get involved too, my hat is off to them.

Glad that a poster brought this up, a good topic, a important one.

IMHO.

Did a quick google, many articles links, heres the first one that is one of the more recent in time...a quick skim by me, interersting point in their, 80% of the attacks are NOT repoeted which goes back to my earlier posted fact, poor treatment by the military on these situation, woman victems, are afraid to report, which is a disgrace.

jafrianews.com/2010/12/18/us-military-women-getting-raped-by-there-fellow-soldier-who-are-criminals-rather-than-soldiers/

[Deleted]

Actually I think they do administer (if wanted) a day after tablet. It wouldn't be an abortion exactly.

[privateinvestor]

Jun 3, 2011 13:38:25 GMT -5 @oldtex said:

Actually I think they do administer (if wanted) a day after tablet. It wouldn't be an abortion exactly.

Do you know if so called day after pill is or is not administered?? I know we were given pills and registered with an Aid Station just in case we caught something to prevent being court martialed for VD, or STD and etc..and they were not little blue pills but white ones..

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Rape seems to be a HUGE problem in the military, based on the sheer number of warning signs my wonderful DH reported seeing EVERYWHERE when deployed to Iraq.

[privateinvestor]

[quote author=mollymouser board=politics thread=9245 post=372137 time=1307130331]Rape seems to be a HUGE problem in the military, based on the sheer number of warning signs my wonderful DH reported seeing EVERYWHERE when deployed to Iraq.

[/quote][/color]

We all knew of this Molly but not the seriousness and in my time on active it was rarely reported and women suffered in silence...But they had separate barracks then for the ladies and they were encouraged to not date anyone they worked with..or worked for...And female officers were not too inclined to date enlisted men. Male officers and Staff NCO were encouraged not to date female enlisted so there were more restrictions then which may account why today it is more serious with more ladies serving these days than in my time on active duty, I guess/

[henryclay]

I believe the email overstates the case of rape. I just don't believe our "smartest and finest in the history of the United States" has been reduced to muggers, assault artists and rapists.

Of course I could be wrong about them being the "finest and smartest in the history of the United States', too. After all, they are predominantly young and virile.

But if it is a problem with the military tunrning coed, I wonder what to expect when it turns omnigender.

[privateinvestor]

Hey Henry FYI from congresswoman Susan Davis of San Diego CA webpage:

Women in the Military

Woman are serving in capacities like never before and performing admirably in our military. As Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel, Susan has long been an advocate for our female military members as well as for our military families in general. She has traveled to Afghanistan and spent time with active servicewomen there, advocated for women in combat, and continually reached out to our military families to better understand their needs. Susan joined the First Lady at Camp Pendleton to talk directly with military families and find out how the federal government can better support them.
As then-chairwoman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel, Susan set out last Congress to continue an intense examination of sexual assault in the military by holding a series of hearings. The first two hearings of this series looked at victim advocacy and support, as well as the prevention programs put in place by the DOD. The third hearing fully examined the recent findings and recommendations of the Defense Task Force on Sexual Assault in the Military Services. Following those hearings, Susan led the historic effort to include a stand-alone title within the Fiscal Year 2010 National Defense Authorization Act, the most comprehensive package of legislative proposals addressing sexual assault in the military in the committee’s history. You can read Susan’s Letter to the Editor in Ms. Magazine here.

Edit I think after this legislation by Ms Davis went nowhere Ms Spirier went ballistic and sent out emails to those on her email list who are active, inactive or retired to take up her cause...

I don't what can be done unless Ms Davis and Ms Spirier can get to the new Chairman of the Joint Chiefs to do something about their cause for women in the military....I don't mean to be smug or chauvinistic but this is way above my pay grade and had no idea it's this serious...or still don't know because most of us old farts don't want to get involved in these tough issues about abortion and look the other way..

[deziloooooo]

Jun 3, 2011 15:05:19 GMT -5 henryclay said:

I believe the email overstates the case of rape. I just don't believe our "smartest and finest in the history of the United States" has been reduced to muggers, assault artists and rapists.

Henry, this is just one, one of the first I found on a quick google,

"http://jafrianews.com/2010/12/18/us-mili....th an-soldiers/ "

Suggest open it up, and if needed, I could post a dz links on the same problem , more detailed, more stats, more official, hearings, many have been held, and still have more to post.

"I just don't believe ", Believe, it is a real happening as much as you and I don't want to believe it is so, it is so.

Regarding another post by one, didn't hear about it back in the day, today , 80 % of the attacks are not reported, back in the ay possible 950%, 95%, were not reported.

Reasons. Legitimate , poor follow up and support by superiors, higher command.

Also not , embarrassment. What is there to be really embarrassed about, here they, the attacked, were victims, but because of indifference and poor treatment by senior parties toward the incident, though I can also see the embarrassment, just thought of actually, because they, victims, being part of the military, taught and instructed to take care of them selves in a violent confrontation, to be aggressive back and might feel didn't do enough to over come the attack.

Naturally that type of thinking is crazy, when one is away from the situation. As much as they are taught to defend themselves , be aggressive, have self esteem, the fact is , for those people, what ever is taught that way, it's more for personal self esteem and mind set.

They are also issued deadly weapons and trained in their uses, and that is how they are really suppose to defend and carry out their missions, not by physical confrontation.

That is the same no matter ones gender.

[henryclay]

Yeah, P.I. And I wonder if the congresslady's hearings uncovered anything like this. It was also in an email. It is part of an larger subject on women in the military:

The lady did a paper for a college course on women in combat. Through research and personal interviews she determined that by and large female officers wanted combat, female enlisted did not. The enlisted females understood what would be required of them and they didn't want any part of it compared to the female officers who did want it, most times entirely for promotion opportunities.

I shoulod have said earlier that if a female military member is raped, or has anything else happen to her that "may" require medical attention she shuld get it, hands down, slam dunk, the best the country can provide. And she should get it ahead of the pouges in Congress.

Not only that, if abortion is not available to rape victims, that informational fact should be included in the recruitment effort and the contract they have to sign.

[privateinvestor]

That is what has Jackie Spirier so ticked off too Henry, since there are women in the military paying for abortions..It would be interesting to find out how many woman have had to do this ?? Also if this was not a big issue in congress I don't think Jackie Spirier would get involved with Susan Davis..

If they are quiting the military academies or the military then it needs to be addressed in congress and not swept under the rug or else you can bet the Liberals will use it against the Republicans big time

[deziloooooo]

Jun 3, 2011 15:27:47 GMT -5 henryclay said:

Yeah, P.I. And I wonder if the congresslady's hearings uncovered anything like this. It was also in an email. It is part of an larger subject on women in the military:

The lady did a paper for a college course on women in combat. Through research and personal interviews she determined that by and large female officers wanted combat, female enlisted did not. The enlisted females understood what would be required of them and they didn't want any part of it compared to the female officers who did want it, most times entirely for promotion opportunities.

I shoulod have said earlier that if a female military member is raped, or has anything else happen to her that "may" require medical attention she shuld get it, hands down, slam dunk, the best the country can provide. And she should get it ahead of the pouges in Congress.

Not only that, if abortion is not available to rape victims, that informational fact should be included in the recruitment effort and the contract they have to sign.

Agree with you on all of the above...except last line, agree but never happen.

True story. A closest friend from Texas City , Tx, daughter just graduated from Trinity College , Ireland after five years Medical School, came home with $450.000 debt for schooling. In talking to her and after give all my love and congrats, asked her if she had given any thought to considering Military enlistment, as she would go into th service as a Captain I beleive, plus a good chance of being sent on to any specialty she was interested in, [pediatrics in ohio, three years plus a one year fellowship in a specialty, is what she is doing} I beelived if she served she might have a good partnof her debt covered, depending on her service and as a Officer, Doctor with a specialty, not the worse career and after he twenty..yadda, yadda.

She said she thought of it but the possibility of 'Rape " has bothered her and is so far exploring other options.[Which she did and dii]

The possibility of, could happen, but Officer , beginning of real rank and they move these types up pretty rapidly, chances serving on front liines or close, eeeehhhh, but in her mind, a very intelligent young woman, 31, the stories are out there, in all places, it is a problem and for a young enlisted, low rank....

The military would never bring that up , your suggestion on the recruitmaent of, the problem when they recruited as a condition that had to be worried about...as would many , if any , private employers.

[Deleted]

Stats on military women that need abortions due to rape, please?
My daughter's best friend just got out of the Army. She did lots of time in Iraq, and Afghanistan. She is a beautiful woman. Gorgeous, actually. Not only did she not get raped, but she also had no problem with the lesbians she knew and slept in the barracks with. PLUS-- she met her fiancée in the military and is to be married when he gets out, or sooner if he stays..She DID have access to birth control, by the way, and no man ever tried to rape her. All in all, she had an awesome experience in the Army.
Go, USA!!!

[deziloooooo]

Jun 3, 2011 15:48:53 GMT -5 @krickitt said:

Stats on military women that need abortions due to rape, please?
My daughter's best friend just got out of the Army. She did lots of time in Iraq, and Afghanistan. She is a beautiful woman. Gorgeous, actually. Not only did she not get raped, but she also had no problem with the lesbians she knew and slept in the barracks with. PLUS-- she met her fiancée in the military and is to be married when he gets out, or sooner if he stays..She DID have access to birth control, by the way, and no man ever tried to rape her. All in all, she had an awesome experience in the Army.
Go, USA!!!

Krickett, not saying ALL young woman in the military were exposed or experienced the happening. As far as being hit on or problems with the third sex, why should she? Stats, they are there, google, and don't forget , majority of these attacks are not even reported, the one link I posted says 80 % not reported.

Glad for your daughters best friend , thank her from me, us , if you see her, we all thank her for her service, and even if she was not beautiful, Gorgeous, it doesn't mean she might have or have not, suffered the attacks we are discussing , for these types who commit such acts, I don't think it is the personal attraction of, more their power over.Attractive , unattractive, all the same.

Berlin , 1945..estimated 2 million German females raped by conquering Russian troops, , from infants to senior, seniors...everything in between...it was retribution, putting in place , humiliation toward the males, unable to stop attacks, and power over. Beauty of...? eeeggghhhh

[henryclay]

Berlin , 1945..estimated 2 million German females raped by conquering Russian troops, ,

You are apparently comparing the Russian occupation of Berlin, (after 4 years of debauching brutality at the hands of the Germans), with day to day life inside our own military services where males and females of similar backgrounds and training live and work together for a common purpose.

I don't think the comparison fits.

[privateinvestor]

Jun 3, 2011 16:12:29 GMT -5 Ratchets said:

Well thank God we're not Russian troops, and this isn't Berlin in 1945 then.

Ratchets Thanx for my favorite Avatar you AF guys know how to make an old man cry

[Deleted]

She just spent a week with us, Dez. Deliriously happy to be home, would not trade her experience for anything, is now in school to become a PT on the GI bill. Wedding ahead, and they just got a Golden Retriever puppy. All is well for this one little girl that left a kid at 18, came home a woman at 21. God bless the USA!!!

[deziloooooo]

Jun 3, 2011 16:14:12 GMT -5 henryclay said:

Berlin , 1945..estimated 2 million German females raped by conquering Russian troops, ,

You are apparently comparing the Russian occupation of Berlin, (after 4 years of debauching brutality at the hands of the Germans), with day to day life inside our own military services where males and females of similar backgrounds and training live and work together for a common purpose.

I don't think the comparison fits.

No comparison beyond that beauty, looks have nothing to do with such attacks , always exception , but over all, it's a power trip...what happened in 1945 in Berlin, beauty and attractiveness of the German females had nothing to do with it...and Krickett pointed out the daughters friend was beautiful , gorgeouse and besides my not suggesting that the majority of the female military encounter this type of treatment, thus not surprised her daughters friend did not encounter this problem, it is a concern of these female military and it is not a small problem, the attractiveness of the ones involved in these attacks are also not the issue.

Sexual attacks of female military by fellow male military people is a problem in the services, not a tiny problem, and the after affects at many of these attacks at the the units involved is also a problem, many times , to many poorly handled, and is a concern of the seniors of the military, thus there have been congressional hearings on the problem.

There are former military females speaking out , not confined just to the enlisted by the way, and because we don't like to hear, find it uncomfortable does not mean it isn't happening, it is happening.

[deziloooooo]

Jun 3, 2011 16:17:35 GMT -5 @krickitt said:

She just spent a week with us, Dez. Deliriously happy to be home, would not trade her experience for anything, is now in school to become a PT on the GI bill. Wedding ahead, and they just got a Golden Retriever puppy. All is well for this one little girl that left a kid at 18, came home a woman at 21. God bless the USA!!!

Again Krickett, I am sure she is a doll and a military experience can be a great one, especially for self confidence and good for ones feeling of self worth.

However , because she had no problem in this regard does not mean there is no problem or are you suggesting she didn't encounter such problems they don't exist.
If you are saying that, it is so small, while regrettable but not really a problem that has to be addressed or really concerned about in the big picture, your wrong, the word is out in all places, see my , true , conversation with my friends daughter and the action of the two Congresswoman and the Congressional hearings on the subject.

I did a quick google...didn't bring any over, give you a chance to pick your own, and if I refined my google could be more specific.

If any, you too Krick, think there is little problems in reality on this topic..just click on the link I am going to post, see where it brings you, then you pick and choose the many links devoted to this problem and come back and tell me ,

"Hey don't sweat it, not really a problem , a few incidents only, what do you expect red blooded boys, long way from home. Those are American young girls too, long way from home also serving in harms way"

www.good50.com/search.html?cx=partner-pub-8901060649504376%3Ah6dhu7bwwxk&cof=FORID%3A9&ie=UTF-8&q=Congressional+hearings+on+sexual+harrassment+and+attacks+on+female+military+personnel+USA&sa=Go&sitesearch=#1370

."

[henryclay]

I am sure she is a doll

And I am just as sure you have a disgusting choice of words when speaking about someone else's family.

[Deleted]

I opened your link, Dez. I'm not denying there are assaults, but I am betting that military women, more than others, even, are prepared to defend themselves. As for abortions.. rape.. show me the numbers.. again.. but military women serving overseas have a pretty nice bank account if they are single, because they don't spend much in a war zone.. if I was a woman serving in a dangerous place I would take BC.. just in case. Don't know if that is encouraged or whatever in the military, but it IS available.. Women are always vulnerable, unfortunately, and should always be prepared for the worst in a dangerous place. Not good, but it is reality.

[deziloooooo]

Jun 3, 2011 17:04:33 GMT -5 henryclay said:

I am sure she is a doll

And I am just as sure you have a disgusting choice of words when speaking about someone else's family.

Henry if your looking to get into it with me, I pass...if you believe my use of the word "Doll " is disrespectful, you are , and for your information, there is no family connection here, just the best friend of Kricketts daughter.

Why not go along now and play but don't get the clothes dirty, think your going visiting with the folks..

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

I don't think there WOULD be accurate statistics of women in the military who obtain abortions (due to rape or any other reason), since these procedures would inevitably be occurring off-base in civilian facilities.

[deziloooooo]

Jun 3, 2011 17:14:06 GMT -5 @krickitt said:

I opened your link, Dez. I'm not denying there are assaults, but I am betting that military women, more than others, even, are prepared to defend themselves. As for abortions.. rape.. show me the numbers.. again.. but military women serving overseas have a pretty nice bank account if they are single, because they don't spend much in a war zone.. if I was a woman serving in a dangerous place I would take BC.. just in case. Don't know if that is encouraged or whatever in the military, but it IS available.. Women are always vulnerable, unfortunately, and should always be prepared for the worst in a dangerous place. Not good, but it is reality.

Well BC is her choice but many woman react with it, there is I believe , used to be, to long for me to stay up with it , some times long term problems and if she was not planning to be sexually active, to have to take it because of a possible...to defend themselves, we are not talking about super woman here, and the ones who are commiting theese attacks are also trained, bigger, stronger in most cases, and much more violent...and I am sure are smart enough not to go after a armed person...