US Military to be Investigated over Juvenile Sexual Abuse Allegations

[daftandbarmy]

Crikey...



Democratic lawmakers demanded a separate and outside investigation into allegations of sexual abuse within the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) to protect high school students from “exploitative practices and predatory instructors.”

The group, which includes Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee chairwoman Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and House Oversight Committee ranking member Jamie Raskin, D-Md., reportedly wrote a letter asking the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to launch a probe. The purpose is to help the U.S. Congress determine whether to scale back or shut down the JROTC program altogether.

According to the lawmakers, “Any incident of sexual abuse or harassment is unacceptable and betrays the faith and trust that JROTC cadets and their families have placed in the U.S. military.” Military leaders view the JROTC program as a critical recruiting and outreach tool. It is offered at over 3,500 U.S. high schools, reaching over 500,000 students.

The lawmakers’ request came a few months after the Defense Department leaders acknowledged that sexual abuse of high school students had been an ongoing and significant problem in the military. The data revealed that 58 such cases occurred between 2017 and 2022.

Over the past five years, 46 instructors have been decertified due to sexual abuse allegations. Two other instructors also died by suicide before they settled their cases.

US Military to be Investigated over Juvenile Sexual Abuse Allegations

Democratic lawmakers are demanding an outside investigation into allegations of sexual abuse within the JROTC program to protect high school students and determine whether to scale back or shut down the program altogether.

sofrep.com

 

[Colin Parkinson]

So are they going to apply the same standard to the teaching profession and are they going to shut down teaching because some teachers are predators? I don't mind them cleaning out the rot, but rebuild the good wood.

 

[FormerHorseGuard]

All programs involving children, and teenagers have these issues to sort thru.

Scouts Canada ( formerly known as Boy Scouts of Canada) have law suits filed, some open some closed for abuse

Canadian Cadet programs, lots of cases of abuse and court cases

Sports programs, too many to even mention

Teachers, school staff,

Churches , way too many

I think they need to look at how the programs are managed, how they are staffed and how the staff is vetted, and how much time the staff interacts outside of the program. ( I was in scouts and hung out with the leadership because they were my friends and we had a great time outside the program. no issues of any kind).

Always have doors open, 2 staffers from the leadership in the room when doors are closed so they can witness the interaction

Background checks are useful but only if the person has a background to check, if nothing reported in the past or convictions it does not show

Biggest thing we need is when convicted, a serious sentence be imposed and it is down graded for good behaviour, no children in jail to abuse and jail house rules in place.

Other thing is there has to be a National reporting clearing house.

Teacher fired, for cause, the cause needs to be reported so all school boards know the issue when said teacher reapplies to their board.

Same with sport groups, if there was a hint of the behaviour, it needs to be recorded.

In the Military, the leadership needs to clean house starting upstairs in the corner offices and work down to the barracks so the behaviour is stopped. ( We know how it works, higher up you go the less chance you will be reported)

 

[Brad Sallows]

People who like to mistreat kids, and people who like kids too much, are both prone to work/volunteer in kid-rich environments. The risk is known; people have to be realistic and vigilant.

 

[OldSolduer]

People who like to mistreat kids, and people who like kids too much, are both prone to work/volunteer in kid-rich environments. The risk is known; people have to be realistic and vigilant.

AND be aware of the signs of grooming....