Much of my work as an active duty military prosecutor involved allegations of sexual assault (by woman soldiers and by civilians).
The commanders always understood that MOST - yes, MOST - of the allegations were likely consensual sex that the “victim” was later embarrassed by (when friends discovered it) or incensed by (when she realized the guy was now bedding someone new). But commanders know that they have to pretend otherwise if they are to remain in command.
The prosecutors advising the command also knew all this, as did the defense attorneys (many of whom had previously been prosecutors since a good JAG career involves assignments on both sides).
And the judges (normally Lt. Col. & Col.) and juries (panels, as they are called, consisting of those who have served at least 5 years and normally averaging over 15 years of service) knew all this, too.
It is policital correctness gone wild.
It is sick to think that everyone plays along - feeling forced to.
But it is also comforting to think that the players are all in on the game, so at all stages this weighs on the process.
I know that prosecutors would pressure the alleged victims (claiming that they are simply putting them through the same wringer that the defense counsel will when they take the stand as a witness) to force out the weaknesses of the case. This would often result in dropping the charges - with the “victim” quietly acquiescing.
Sadly, these “victims” would not be punished - but their success in that unit was thereafter impossible which usually would lead to them eventuallly leaving the army sooner than otherwise (which is a great thing).
Pretending that women are warriors is an absolute crock of shit. They are absoutely and unequivocally a drag on the mission readiness.
This does not mean that women are not currently doing important work and have not been heroic in battle, but their contributions are far outweighred by the extreme drag they place on efficiency, cohesion and mission readiness.
The armed services should be segregated into all-male and all-female corps.
The fact is, women in the service has - as predicted - destroyed the necessary warrior spirit that is needed in an army. And the inherent stupidity of housing male soldiers (known to get drunk and carouse) in “co-ed” dorms with women - and then acting shocked that there are allegations of sexual assault - is a big part of that.
Women’s “contributions are far outweighed by the extreme drag they place on efficiency, cohesion and mission readiness.”
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
I served as an officer of Marines for seven years (active) and left the service with this same thought.
And now they want to compound that error by adding openly homosexual persons to the mix. I believe that the military should abandon the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and revert to the way it used to be.....just plain illegal.