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I took command of a company at Ft Hood almost 8 years ago. My very first day, literally just after I cut the cake, my BN CDR asked me to come see him. He handed me an investigation into a hostile workplace environment that was just completed on one of my new platoons.
The investigation was closed and concluded as unfounded. My CDR gave it to me so I had SA. Was shocked when as I read I found a sworn statement from a soldier alleging an NCO forced them to touch his genitals and forcibly moved their head towards them.
I have no idea how many people read the investigation and sworn statement. None took action. I did. The next day the accused NCO confessed to CID and we honored the victim's request to move them to another unit. The NCO remained in my company for 6 months before court martial.
While I pulled him from leadership responsibilities, I made the mistake of keeping him in the platoon. I worried too much about giving the impression of punishment in advance of trial and should have pulled him to the training room. His PSG (who I fired) used him as an NCO.
I did the right thing overall, but inadvertently undercut my message. I share this because the issues stemming from the Ft Hood report aren't new. It is also easy for even well-intentioned actions to fall short. Fixing the problem requires persistent, thoughtful action for years.
We should be angry about the Ft Hood report. However, if you're angry for the first time, you're late. Welcome to the team. Change how you talk about SHARP, how you talk about women, the jokes you let slide. Change the space around you.
It's also not a Ft Hood problem. It is an Army one. Yes, we reflect society. However, we can also demand better and we have to. Coded messaging about women in combat arms and mixed formations is ridiculous and protects predators at the expense of good people who want to serve.
The women I have served with made me a better officer, leader, and man. It's infuriating that they had to work so much harder than me to "prove" their worth. I want our Army to reflect the wonderful diversity of the country because that's our strength.
All soldiers are entitled to being treated with dignity and respect and the assumption they both belong to the team and make it better. No one has ever questioned that I deserve those benefits. It's gross that many do for women.