Sharper Look at Zero Tolerance Reports of Sexual Assault Rock US Airforce Case Study Solution
The US Air Force is currently being held responsible for committing sexual assault on female airmen. It is a disturbing and shocking trend. While the reports have been out for a while, the severity of the problem has increased recently. This article will explore the situation and provide some recommendations for action.
Problem Statement
A recent study examining the effects of the Zero Tolerance on US Air Force personnel and their families revealed a litany of horror stories. One of the more egregious was a man found dead in his own cell, allegedly strangled to death by Border Patrol agents. It's safe to assume that this wasn't the first time such an incident has occurred. As with any incarceration, the process is fraught with emotional turmoil. The fact that the men who arrested the man were not prosecuted threw a wrench in the works. There are also several reports of families being separated for reasons ranging from being ineligible for the program to being snubbed by overly zealous guards. Some even went so far as to question whether the whole family should be allowed to reunite. In any case, the saga should be the subject of a book or two. We'll be keeping a close eye on the proceedings to see if it all comes to an end.
Although the Zero Tolerance has no doubt strained the already tenuous family relations of US Air Force personnel, there is a silver lining to the whole ordeal. It has also shed light on the merits of the aforementioned blunder, and possibly served as a wake-up call for the betters of our military. Ultimately, it is up to us as a society to determine whether the aforementioned mishap was a one-off, or in the words of one of the aforementioned victims.
Case Study Solution
In January 2003, the Air Force OSI (AFOSI) was notified of sexual assault problems at the US Air Force Academy (USAFA). This case study describes the steps that AFOSI took to deal with these issues.
The Air Force OSI's investigation of sexual assaults at USAF A revealed that cadets experienced unwanted sexual touches and rapes in the dormitories and on the base. Some were abused through sexual jokes and gestures, while others were forced to engage in sexual favors. During the course of the investigations, 48 suspected offenders were prosecuted. Moreover, a number of cadets were removed from the academy.
However, in 19 percent of cases, AFOSI was unable to identify the suspect. That means that the investigating officer did not contact those who have first-hand knowledge of the alleged incident. Despite that, a large number of investigations resulted in civilian trials and military courts martial. Approximately two-thirds of the cases were resolved through honor code sanctions.
The Air Force Surgeon General approved a temporary waiver of the policy. This allowed the sexual assault reporting program to be formalized. Specifically, a new notification form was implemented that would eliminate all of the information necessary for the investigator to make a decision.
The changes also limited the investigator's ability to gain a cooperative relationship with the suspect, as well as prevented them from gaining physical evidence. Although the new policy was intended to prevent the loss of physical evidence, the overall result was that only the victim was able to report the assault.
Porters Five Forces
The US Air Force's (USAF) sexual assault program has been a subject of controversy for years. Among the many criticisms, there is the issue of withholding sexual assault reports from AFOSI. This is a violation of DoD policy.
Another concern is that the USAF A program is only one part of a broken composite of agencies. Some officials do not understand the difference between an amnesty in a sexual assault case and immunity in a UCMJ proceeding.
In the USAF, a sexual assault is an offense that could lead to an honor code sanction or a military court martial. There may also be a psychiatric "diagnosis" for victims. It's important for cadets to know what steps they can take to protect themselves and their fellow cadets.
While some of the issues involving sexual assault at USAF A have been resolved, there are still many questions. One of the most important issues is how to make sure equal punishment is given to people who commit the same types of crimes.
The Air Force's Inspector General (SAF/IG) investigated the allegations of sexual assault involving cadets at USAFA. Approximately 16 incidents were analyzed. They included allegations of a cadet rape, a cadet molesting a fellow cadet, and an attempt to sexually assault another cadet.
Although the SAF/IG analyzed the complaint and recommended an appropriate course of action, the process did not follow a standard pattern. For example, the investigation did not include interviews with those who had first hand knowledge of the allegation. Moreover, the investigating officer did not review the AFOSI report of investigation in the alleged cadet rape.
PESTLE Analysis
There are several reports of sexual assaults at the United States Air Force Academy. Most of them are reported by female cadets. However, there are also cases of male cadets who are sexually abused. Some of the reports are from first-year cadets. These cadets are at a greater risk for physical and sexual abuse than are upper-class cadets.
While the report does not mention the gender of the victim, it is likely that most alleged sexual assaults occurred in the cadet dormitories. Although this type of abuse could be a traumatic experience, it is important to remember that the victim's physical healing and emotional well-being are more important.
According to the AFOSI Commander, the USAF A program did not meet Air Force guidelines. Furthermore, AFOSI did not identify suspects in almost 19 percent of the cases it investigated. It is not clear why this happened.
After the USAF A Commander raised concerns about the program, LtGen Oelstrom began to investigate the problem. He found that the AFOSI commander lacked organizational independence. In addition, he did not exercise reasonable management oversight.
The new CASIE program manager made changes to the notification form. This resulted in a reduction in information necessary to make an investigation decision. Also, the new notification form did not provide the AFOSI investigator with the opportunity to gain cooperative relations with the suspect.
Additionally, the AFOSI Commander objected to the program three times during the time it was in effect.
Financial Analysis
The US Air Force recently received a report about the cadet sexual assault reporting program. The report reveals that USAF A was not very effective in preventing the reporting of sexual assault.
Several senior leaders at USAF A were removed after the problem was discovered. However, the report does not explain what happened during the period that the Air Force was aware of the sexual assault issues.
In late 1999, an Air Force Working Group was convened to investigate complaints about the sexual assault reporting process at USAF A. A report was issued on June 17, 2003, containing 36 recommendations for improvement. Some of the suggestions were based on erroneous positions.
Some of the recommendations included a change in the sexual assault reporting policy, a new operating instruction, and a waiver. But the new policy did not comply with certain conditions in the waiver.
In fact, it could potentially hinder the investigation of sexual assaults. Among other things, the AFOSI would not receive monthly reports from USAFA. This could lead to a lack of physical evidence.
Additionally, the policy relegated the sexual assault reporting program to a confidential system. LtGen Oelstrom did not exercise adequate management oversight and did not properly implement the sexual assault reporting process.
Furthermore, the AFOSI Commander repeatedly raised concerns about the sexual assault reporting program. Although he tried to prevent the negative effects of the program, it was impossible for him to do so.
Recommendations
One of the best ways to ensure that the US military keeps their male members safe is to do a better job preventing sexual assaults. That's why Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is making combating sexual assault a top priority. He sent a memo to the entire Department of Defense on Thursday.
It's not just the Navy and the Air Force that have seen an increase in sexual assaults during the past decade. According to the Pentagon, the US Army has seen a 25.6% increase in reported incidents, while the US Air Force has seen a 2% spike. The Department of Defense has committed to conducting a thorough assessment of sexual assault in the military.
For example, the Department of Defense's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO) uses science and trauma-informed assessment methodologies to identify and report on sexual assaults in the military. Aside from generating comprehensive reports, the organization also provides prevention training and resources to those who need it most.
One of the best ways to prevent sexual assault is to let victims speak out. DOC encourages individuals who experience unwanted sexual contact to inform their family or friends. Moreover, the DOC has a zero tolerance policy for sexual abuse. There are a number of other measures a victim can take, from requesting a restraining order to contacting the local police department.
While there's no doubt the most successful measure to stop sexual assault in the US military will be to improve the quality of the recruitment process, there are a few other steps a commander can take. In particular, commanders can no longer unilaterally dismiss convictions, and they must now forward complaints to an independent investigator.
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