All personnel, from the newest recruit to the highest ranking general, must play their part in making the Service a better place for everybody, the Army Servicewomen’s Network says.
Co-chair Lt Col Sam Dodge (RLC) called on individuals to challenge misconduct.
“Personnel need to understand that touching someone without their consent is a crime that must be reported to the Service or civilian police,” she said.
“For victims, I know it’s hard, but I want to encourage them to report their experiences and for those people who witness the crimes to also do their duty and tell someone.
“Then there’s a lot of unacceptable behaviour that isn’t criminal but that by going unchecked could allow crimes to take place.
“Having the courage to speak out may well prevent something worse from happening to someone else.
“Be an ally to the person on the receiving end – don’t walk on by and don’t assume that the RSM or CO know about it and are dealing with it.”
The officer emphasised leaders should “set the tone and back it up with substance” by making it clear that wrongdoing wouldn’t be tolerated.
Prioritising complaints and discipline cases to ensure swift resolution was key, she insisted.
In addition, the network’s committee called on Service personnel to actively engage with mandatory behaviours briefs and active bystander training. Read more here.
“No one likes attending another lecture but those people sitting there and rolling their eyes at it need to look inwards and ask themselves why they find it difficult to listen to,” explained co-chair WO1 Hayley Cornforth (AGC (SPS)).
“Is it because they think some of that conduct is acceptable? Or would they look away if they saw it happen?
“They should consider how they would feel if it was their sister, mother, brother or themselves affected.”
Despite being in positions of authority, both women said subordinates had used inappropriate language to them.
“In my role as RSM I can stamp it out - I won’t allow anyone to act like that,” continued WO1 Cornforth.
“But if it’s happening to me, there will be others more junior or reserved who don’t feel able to speak up.”
Lt Col Dodge concluded: “The stories are heartbreaking and at the centre of each one is a Service person who is meant to be part of your team – if you can’t feel empathy for them, you’re not a good team member.”
The man behind the Fill Your Boots social media page reflects on the day his inbox filled up with hundreds of allegations of abuse, assault and humiliation from former and serving female soldiers...
Alfie Usher
I wasn’t expecting the response that came. I never served with women in the Paras, so it never crossed my mind it would be happening on this scale.
I’ve received more than 1,300 messages and some of them are shocking – stories of Servicewomen too scared to sleep in the block or use the bathroom at night because of blokes coming to their rooms. If my daughter or wife was serving I would want CCTV in every corridor.
The overwhelming majority of people aren’t sex pests, but those who are, or those in authority who are abusing positions of power, need to be kicked out, not movedon or promoted.
Alfie Usher (ex-Para), Fill Your Boots founder
