Editor\u2019s note: This is an op-ed and as such, the opinions expressed are those of the author.<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is a leadership issue. We will lead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That was the signoff on a military \u00adreview, ordered by new Defense \u00adSecretary Lloyd Austin, looking into military sexual assault prevention \u00adprograms in efforts to pursue solutions to sexual assault in the military.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I could not agree more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Right now there is a perfect case study for the defense secretary to be presented with \u2014 the case of a young Marine, Cpl. Thae Ohu, who is currently facing assault charges stemming from trauma from a previous sexual assault.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But why would leadership expose its own failures when it is so much easier to have a scapegoat?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Looking beyond a Marine Corps \u00adnarrative to make Ohu a criminal by leveling up her charge of simple assault to attempted murder for her court-martial, any rational person will see the reality of how the Marine Corps systematically failed Ohu for many years and that it is attempting to save its own skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instead of Ohu\u2019s chain of command acknowledging its own cycle of abuse that led to her instability and eventual outburst, they publicly charged and identified her as a criminal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Military leadership is \u00adrelentless in efforts to silence victims by \u00advictim-blaming and retaliation, both of which contribute to the \u00adunder-reporting of sexual assault within the ranks. Retaliation can include the victim being investigated rather than the perpetrator, being transferred to \u00adanother unit, blamed for the assault or even losing their job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All these tactics exist in Ohu\u2019s case, including reduction in rank, interruptions of therapy appointments, excessive workload when on light duty, office gossip about her medical conditions, culminating in her withdrawal from long-term in-patient care, unjustly locking her up in the brig and treating her more poorly than even the Geneva Conventions allow for detained prisoners of war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ohu spent seven weeks in the brig before she was notified of her charges, 11 days in solitary confinement during which her religious freedoms were violated, among other dehumanizing circumstances that even the worst war criminals never are inflicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ohu began seeking mental health care as intervention for her well-being, which is crucial to aggression avoidance. Post-traumatic stress, anxiety and environmental stressors are just a few things that can trigger aggressive incidents \u2014 all of which Ohu was experiencing and for which she was receiving treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is documented that Ohu was experiencing numerous factors that would contribute to possible acts of violence, including insomnia, nightmares, flashbacks, toxic leadership, fatigue, lack of appetite, isolation, withdrawal and personality changes. All of these reasons were cited as support and included in the decision to medically retire Ohu, so she could seek proper care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Department of Defense has seen a 42.5 percent increase of men and women bravely reporting these crimes: DoD leadership must start punishing the predators and stop punishing the victims. For leadership to make Ohu\u2019s situation right would show the great effort and commitment it will have to improve protection for other victims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rape and other sexual assaults violate every moral and ethnic code the military stands for. Yet, retaliation is the norm. Out of the women who reported sexual assault, 64 percent also reported facing retaliation, according to DoD statistics. 66 percent of retaliation \u00adreports alleged that retaliators were in the reporter\u2019s chain of command. A third of victims are discharged from the military within seven months of making a report and 24 percent separated in less than honorable conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr. Austin has a chance to make a powerful declaration and lead by example, simply believing Ohu, removing her from the control of her toxic leadership and immediately releasing her from the brig to get the proper care she needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This just act of leadership will forge changes in the military\u2019s culture to \u00adprotect survivors, remove toxic leaders and end sexual assault in the ranks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kerri Jeter is the founder of Freedom \u00adSisters Media, a place for content, \u00adconnection and community for women beyond the uniform. She served in the Army for 12 years, exiting as a senior captain.<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n