Report: Vt. National Guard sees increase in sexual harassment complaints

MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – Since 2013, the Vermont Nationwide Guard has been required to offer an annual report back to lawmakers detailing sexual assault, harassment, and discrimination among the many ranks. Whereas the variety of sexual assault allegations has remained comparatively flat, the newest report indicated an escalation in sexual harassment complaints, one thing guard leaders say they’re working to deal with.

“We’re going to have individuals with shortcomings, they’re going to make poor selections. It doesn’t excuse the conduct,”

Vermont Nationwide Guard Commander Maj. Gen. Gregory Knight instructed lawmakers Friday. “It stays in my practically 40 years of army service, one of the crucial caustic and damaging issues that I have to deal with in our Guard. I’d like at some point to report that we’ve no incidents of sexual harassment or sexual assault, however we’re not there but.”

Within the report for fiscal yr 2022, just like earlier years, the Guard reported eight sexual assault allegations. Seven of them concerned a member of the Nationwide Guard because the perpetrator. However it additionally exhibits the variety of sexual harassment complaints grew to 16 — the best quantity reported up to now. Earlier experiences recorded two complaints in 2018 and one in 2020.

Nikki Sorrell, the sexual assault response coordinator for the Guard, says the rise is because of a change in tradition and coverage, together with offering extra avenues for victims to report incidents. “It is a dialog because the “Me too” motion. We’re lastly brazenly speaking about these items and brazenly believing survivors and pushing individuals to imagine survivors. It’s pure that we’re going to see that as properly proper? We’re a cross-section of our society,” she mentioned.

It’s a part of what the Guard calls a “no mistaken door coverage,” the place members can report back to anybody within the chain of command, together with the adjutant basic.

Lawmakers say penalties for Guard troopers when deployed have to be extra uniform and the numbers want to return down. “We kind of lose management over what occurs to them and with them, and I’d wish to see far more alignment and cohesion between the method for when somebody may be the sufferer or the perpetrator of sexual assault or sexual harassment,” mentioned Sen. Ruth Hardy, D-Addison County.

“Individuals being prepared to return ahead as survivors of harassment and assault and say that they’re going to be believed is that we’re going to see a rise in reporting. And the hope could be that the brand new experiences and new incidents go down over time,” mentioned Rep. Mike McCarthy, D-Franklin.

Knight says when allegations come up, the Guard depends closely on civilian assets like native police to assist examine and probably cost offenders.

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Vt. Nationwide Guard report addresses sexual misconduct, misogynist tradition

Vt. Nationwide Guard examines extremism within the ranks

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