module 5 - Retaliation

 

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10. Retaliation

THIS IS NOT OKAY!

DEFINITION: Retaliation includes the following actions against the victim, SHARP Professional and/or witness(s). Categories are:

• Reprisal — Wrongfully taking or threating to take adverse personnel action, or withholding threatening to withhold favorable personnel action against a person who reports or plans to report an offense.
• Ostracism — Excluding a person from social acceptance, privilege, or friendship.
• Acts of cruelty, oppression, or maltreatment.

 

Vignettes

• A Formal Sexual Harassment Complaint is Initiated

  Topic: Sexual Harassment and Retaliation

  Module: 3 – Sexual Harassment and 5 - Retaliation

  Situation: SPC Coles is Being Harassed

  SPC Coles, files a formal harassment complaint against several members of their new Infantry squad. SPC Coles files the complaint upon discovering that squad members have a “hot” list ranking individuals based on physical appearance. After filing the complaint, SPC Coles is called derogatory names and accused of being a troublemaker and a non-team player. Soldiers say things like, “What? You think you’re better than the rest?”; “Why do you think they let people like you in the Infantry? It was to entertain the others.” Squad members tell others in the platoon not to associate with SPC Coles because they could face repercussions for even speaking with or looking at them. Someone leaves a note under SPC Coles' barracks room door saying, “Drop the complaint if you ever want to be part of the team.”

  Discussion Questions:

  1. What did you notice was happening in this vignette?
  2. What is your reaction to what is happening here?
  3. If confronted with a similar situation, what would you do?
  4. What Army values have been violated and how could you use the Army values to address/intervene in this situation?
  5. What is the responsibility of those who knew of the inappropriate conduct?
  6. What could have been done?
  7. Why do you think nobody intervened?

  
  

  Solution:The vignette demonstrates ostracism, a form of retaliation. Upon filing a formal harassment complaint, SPC Coles’ peers began excluding them from the squad and encouraging others to do the same, in order to pressure them into dropping the complaint. Retaliation can be reported to the chain of command, SARC, Victim Advocate, or IG.

• These are some Crazy Rumors

  Topic: Retaliation and Online Misconduct

  Module:5 - Retaliation

  Situation:Social Media

  SSG Smith reports that their warrant officer, CW4 Balloon sexually assaulted them. Others in the unit do not believe that CW4 Balloon would ever do something like this.

  People begin to discuss rumors they have heard about the “facts” of the case – that SSG Smith was drunk at the unit org day and performed oral sex on another Soldier in full view of everyone there. SSG Smith’s supervisor, MSG Tell-all gossips with other people that SSG Smith has a different person in their bed every weekend and enjoys rough sex. Unit members post comments all over social media expressing their support for CW4 Balloon and calling SSG Smith a slut and a liar.

  SSG Smith reports to the SARC that Soldiers and civilians are discussing rumors about their case and are posting favorable comments for CW4 Balloon on social media. SSG Smith reports being retaliated against because they reported a sexual assault.

  Discussion Questions:

  1. What did you notice was happening in this vignette?
  2. What is your reaction to what is happening here?
  3. If confronted with a similar situation, what would you do?
  4. Where does this kind of conduct fall on the continuum of readiness?
  5. What Army values have been violated and how could you use the Army values to address/intervene in this situation?
  6. What is the responsibility of those who knew of the inappropriate conduct?
  7. What could have been done?
  8. Why do you think nobody intervened?

  
  

  Solution: SSG Smith did the right thing and reported to the SARC that they were being retaliated against for reporting a sexual assault. The SARC can discuss the options SSG Smith has when it comes to retaliation, such as how reports of retaliation are investigated.