News has just come in of American Marines, who have violated the code of honor of a soldier. In other words, it is an act prejudicial to good order and discipline. The Marines were members of a secret Facebook page where nude photographs of fellow women combatants were posted. This page on Facebook had a membership of over 30000. It also carried the rank, name, and unit, of the women combatants.
Different lines of thought
There are two lines of thought on this episode. There are some who opine that it's a natural Instinct and they say "boys will be boys." However, the majority are of the opinion that this is a grave transgression of discipline and a disservice to the women who have joined the Armed Forces
The news of the women photographs has now become public property and has been broadcast all over the world.
It does not show the Us Marines in a gòod light. The news that many Marines posted lewd comments on the photographs is cause for worry. One wonders how the women combatants will feel on reading them.
Navy investigates
Congress is seized of the matter. The Navy's Criminal Investigative service is carrying out an investigation, and the photographs have been taken down. A senior Democrat Adam Smith, on the House Armed Services Committee, is clear that the online behavior is “degrading, dangerous and completely unacceptable.”
Sexual harassment cases in the armed forces are nothing new and the preceding two years have seen thousands of cases in the US military. The cases have increased after Congress approved the induction of women in all areas of the armed forces, including combat duties
Cause for worry?
The Marine command is perturbed that such a large number of active troops took part in this episode.
There was no coercion, and yet many willingly joined the secret Facebook page. This is cause for worry, but again such incidents are not uncommon in any fighting force
Despite what has happened it is incumbent on the top brass of the US Army to take action and if need be dismiss the men involved in starting and maintaining the Facebook page. The US Navy took action in a similar case a few weeks back.
