Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III briefs the press from the Pentagon Briefing Room, Washington, D.C., Feb. 19, 2021. (DoD Photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jack Sanders).
By Gary Raynaldo DIPLOMATIC TIMES
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin said sexual assault and extremism are not tolerated in the U.S. Military and that concrete steps are being taken to prevent it. The Defense Secretary made the announcement at a press conference Friday. It was the first time in eight months that a U.S. Secretary of State stood in the Pentagon press briefing room taking questions from journalists. Secretary Austin spoke on a range of issues including COVID vaccinations, the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan and sexual assault and extremism in the Department of Defense.
“I take this issue of sexual assault very, very seriously. And I know that the service chiefs and the service secretaries do as well though.”
-U.S. Secretary of Defense Austin said.
U.S. Marine Posts Video Alleging Sexual Harassment
A screenshot from a Marine’s viral TikTok video. TikTok/@gwotthot
The Defense Secretary addressed the issue of sexual harassment one day after a female U.S. Marine posted a video online TikTok Thursday angrily accusing a general of intervening to stop the ouster of another Marine she accused of sexual assault and exposing once again the lack of military oversight and accountability such cases. The woman alleges that a general intervened in the case to allow her assailant to remain in the Marines. Last year, the Pentagon reported a 3% increase in sexual assaults in 2019.
“And this is exactly why F…ing females in the military F…ing killing themselves,” the distraught woman said through tears in the video. “This is exactly why nobody F…ing takes this seriously.”
“I found the video deeply disturbing and I’ve asked my staff for additional information”
-Secretary Austin said in response after viewing it.
Secretary Austin said the Department of Defense will look into what’s worked to prevent this and what hasn’t and what additional measures need to be taken to ensure a safe, secure and productive environment for all personnel.
“I think any other approach is, in my view, irresponsible. We’ve been working at this for a long time in earnest, but we haven’t gotten it right. In my commitment to our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines and dependents, we’re going to do everything in our power to get it right,”
-Secretary of Defense Austin
Pentagon To Battle Extremism in Ranks of U.S. Military
The Pentagon Press Briefing Room seal as seen March 27, 2020, Washington, D.C. (DoDo photo by Lisa Ferdinando)
Secretary of Defense Austin earlier this month, signed a memo directing commanding officers and supervisors at all levels to select a date within the next 60 days to conduct a one-day “stand-down, ” to discuss extremism in the ranks with their personnel. The January 6 insurrection at the nation’s Capital ripped open raw the disturbing fact that extremist elements are within the ranks the U.S. military. Austin and Army Gen. Mark A, Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with service civilian leaders and service chiefs to discuss the problem of extremism. Investigations revealed that some of the extremists who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6 were active duty service members and others were military veterans. At least 25 people either formerly or currently associated with the military were charged in connection with the riot.
“Extremism tears at the very fabric of unit cohesion. It’s important for us to be able to trust the men and women on our left and right. As I conduct that stand-down, I’ve encouraged [leaders] to have a dialogue with their troops about our values, about the oath of office they took when they came into the service, and about who we are and what we’re about.”
-Secretary of Defense Austin
Austin also said he believes that 99.9% of service members believe in that oath, embrace core values, and are committed to doing the right things.
