Sexual Harassment in the Army

Introduction
Leaders in the military assess and develop a strong ethical climate in their organizations by using “evidence-based developmental programs on individual character and moral development” and by using “empirically validated research instruments to assess ethical climates,” as Allen (2015) notes. One important ethical issue currently facing the Army is the problem of sexual harassment. This paper will illustrate the root cause of sexual harassment, its impact on the force, and present a solution for addressing the root cause.
What is at the Root of Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment stems from an inappropriate regard for opposite sex. It can be demonstrated by both men and women, though it is more common for it to be shown by men towards women (Gore, Williams & Ghosh-Dastidar, 2015). However, now that women share a more prominent role in the military alongside men, the problem of sexual harassment has increased, and Bennett (2017) points out that “poor impulse control is, in part, at the root of sexual assault offenses” (p. 707). Impulse control is an essential element of what it means to be a good soldier—and without it, a soldier is prone to the slightest whims and deviant inspirations that may blow his or her way.
A soldier is trained in combat to defend against or attack an enemy. There is more than one enemy, however: the soldier has to learn both about the enemies in the field and the enemies of the mind and spirit that can kill from within by corrupting the drive, the commitment and the integrity of the soldier and his unit. When sexual harassment becomes a problem in the military, it indicates that the military has lost its sense of honor, integrity, duty, and discipline. Impulse control is not something that one develops automatically the way one simply knows how to breathe or eat. Impulse control is gained through hard work and perseverance.
The Impact of Sexual Harassment on the Force
Since impulse control as at the root of sexual harassment, the problem is not an issue that is limited or isolated in terms of ramifications. In other words, it is not an issue that only affects the victim of sexual harassment. If a soldier has such poor impulse control that he or she cannot prevent him or herself from making unwanted comments or advances on another, that soldier is going to have equally considerable problems in the unit, in the field, with performing tasks, following orders, or overcoming obstacles. Stimson (2013) describes the problem this way: “incidents of sexual assault are detrimental to morale, destroy unit cohesion, show disrespect for the chain of command, and damage the military as a whole, both internally as well as externally.” Sexual harassment undermines the trust and respect that soldiers must show for one another, for their commanders and for the military ethos—and to regain that trust and respect, discipline is required.
Part of what makes a soldier strong and effective is his ability to buckle down and commit to a task without wavering. Fidelity to the duty and vision of the soldier is essential. But a soldier who is committing sexual harassment is not committed that vision: he or she, instead, is wavering in terms of maintaining a moral and ethical principle throughout all his or her conduct. The moral and ethical codes of a soldier are fundamental and cannot be broken. The soldier is not someone who gets to be a soldier from 9-5 and then stops being a soldier after hours or when on a break. A soldier is always a soldier and is always in a state of readiness. To fulfill his duty, the soldier must always been mindful of the ethical code of the military and must always make sure his or her behavior is moral—i.e., in alignment with the ethical code. Otherwise, he or she becomes a weak link in the military, which can lead to the whole unit suffering in a number of different ways—from failing to achieve routine, daily duties to failing in its missions in the field. All it takes is one weak member for the whole to be compromised. Thus, whenever complaints of sexual harassment emerge, it has to be rooted out lest the weakness that accompanies it spreads and contaminates others.
The Solution for Addressing the Root Cause
The solution for addressing this issue can be found within the military itself. The military has a chain of command; it has its own military justice system; it has its own disciplinary measures for violators of standards of conduct—and all of these tools are helpful deterrents. However, to effectively address the root cause of sexual harassment, what is needed is training in positive psychology, which can promote the concept of the “good life” that all soldiers should want to achieve. By seeing the positive side of working together respectfully and being mindful of the good qualities of others, soldiers can develop better morale and rapport with one another. They can also develop better impulse control, as positive psychology teaches them how to identify negative feelings and impulses that could get them into trouble if indulged. Once they are able to identify these feelings and impulses, they can begin to develop an appropriate response to them that is behavioral. For example, a soldier who is attracted to another soldier but does not know the appropriate way to behave in response to these feelings can, first, take ownership of the feelings, and, second, seek advice from a peer who is committed to the vision and mission of the unit or from a commanding officer. No commanding officer worth his salt will ever turn away a soldier who is asking for help and guidance in making sure that he or she is behaving appropriate and up to a standard of morality that is in conformity with the military ethos.
To be faithful to the military ethos, the soldier must have certain qualities and characteristics—and military leaders are the source of communicating this military ethic to the soldier through every word they say, through every action they take. The military leader is the living, breathing example of what a soldier should be like. He should embody the spirit of mission that makes being in the military so unique and so demanding. He should embody the spirit of honor and integrity and should demonstrate obedience to the rules of the military and a willingness to sacrifice himself for others. The simplest way the military leader can demonstrate the virtue of self-sacrifice is through the habit of sacrificing his time for his soldiers. If a soldier has a question, the leader must show a great willingness to stop and hear the soldier out. Bennett (2018) states that “the military ethic exalts obedience and self-sacrifice” (p. 707). By demonstrating obedience and sacrifice, the leader is actually developing obedience and self-sacrifice in the soldier. And by focusing on obedience and sacrifice, a military leader can help to address the root cause of the behavior that is at the bottom of sexual harassment.
Positive psychology, especially through the usage of tools like Master Resiliency Training, can help to promote the self-awareness that soldiers need first and foremost in order to develop and gain the impulse control required of them in the military. Obedience to the vision cannot come unless the soldier has complete mastery of his own will, his own feelings and his own desires. If these ever get the better of him and assert mastery over his own mind, he is lost and ceases to be an effective soldier. Thus, these characteristics and qualities are needed for the Army to operate as a cohesive, self-sustaining whole; and as the military ethos does not permit of any slack, any leeway, or any departure from the code and qualities meant to guide and direct a soldier’s psychology and behavior, the leader’s responsibility is to make sure the soldiers in his unit have the necessary discipline, vision, inspiration and training to ensure they can maintain the spirit of obedience and self-sacrifice.
This is why the military has its own cultural norms that it expects all soldiers to embrace and embody—and being a sexual harasser is not considered to be one of these norms. It is a violation of the military standards of conduct soldiers are meant to abide by. Through the application of training, such as training in resiliency, the military leader can strengthen the mental toughness of the soldier so that the soldier in turn is able to exert the force and will to control unhealthy impulses. Once the habit of self-control and self-mastery is established, the unhealthy impulses will gradually fade: if they are not fed and maintained, they die and fall away from one’s character.
Conclusion
The establishment of a strong ethical climate in the military depends upon the military leaders’ ability to develop and strengthen his soldiers. Self-control, obedience and sacrifice are essential characteristics of a soldier who can be trusted to adhere to the mission and vision of the military. When a soldier engages in sexual harassment, it is a sign that the soldier lacks discipline, mental toughness and the ability to control his or her impulses. The way to address this issue is through the application of positive psychology, which can be used to train soldiers in how to identify negative impulses and develop behavioral responses to deflect them and regain mastery of the self.



References
Allen, C. D. (2015). Ethics and army leadership: climate matters. Parameters, 45(1), 69.
Bennett, J. (2018). Combating Sexual Assault With the Military Ethic: Exploring Culture,
Military Institutions, and Norms-Based Preventive Policy. Armed Forces & Society, 44(4), 707-730.
Gore, K. L., Williams, K. M., & Ghosh-Dastidar, B. (2015). Beliefs about sexual assault
and sexual harassment: Prevalence, prevention, and progress. AR Morral.
Stimson, C. (2013). Sexual Assault in the Military: Understanding the Problem and
How to Fix It. Retrieved from https://www.heritage.org/defense/report/sexual-assault-the-military-understanding-the-problem-and-how-fix-it