About three weeks ago, I read an article in the Chicago Tribune about Andrea Prosse, a former Air Force Acadamy cadet. It was this article that made me decide I wanted to blog, because I was so incensed at the state of affairs in our military academies.
Ms. Prosse was in the upper third of her class, and had shown exceptional leadership skills when she was sanctioned by her fellow classmates and forced to leave school, 8 days before graduating.
While she was a student, she had dated a classmate at the Academy, and when she chose to break off the relationship, he stalked and harrassed her for more than a year. She finally asked upperclassmen, and her instructors, for assistance, and was told she had to resolve the issue on her own.
In her last semester of school, she was working on an engineering project, and the stalker accused her of lying about where she got the design for the engine she was using in the project. She had borrowed the design <u>with permission</u>, but she was tried by her peers and and forced to leave the Academy. Lying is considered an offense punishable by dismissal.
This woman was planning to become a fighter pilot, and then an astronaut, and now her plans will never see fruition. She doesn't have her college degree, and since she can't serve in the Air Force, the government is charging her for four years of education.
She chose to come forward about all this, because even if the case is overturned, and she is reinstated, her male classmates feel she has broken the code by speaking out about a fellow classmate, and has dishonored the Academy in doing so. She will never be able to effectively lead as an officer with this in her background, so this web of lies has destroyed her life long plans.
I have a <b>HUGE</b> problem with an institution that encourages this type of behavior. My tax dollars are going to support a place that feels loyalty to the institution is more important than honesty. Furthermore, the male cadets closed ranks behind the male cadet despite the fact that his actions were clearly self-serving, and this points up the fact that the future leaders of our military place little value on gentlemanly behavior, and NO value on women in the service.
All of this has come on the heels of of 47 women telling their Congressmen that they had been raped or assaulted while they were at the Air Force Acadamy. (Ms. Prass was assaulted by an upperclassman.) At least four of the top officers at the Academy have been asked to step down, but I don't think changing officers at the top is sufficient. Women who elect to serve our county shouldn't have to worry about defending themselves from OUR military personnel.
I don't have the solution to this mess, but I want to see those in charge take the matter more seriously! What do YOU think? Is there a place for women in the services?
Comments (4)
I should be in bed already..........but I canna read this an let it pass.....
it's a sad fact of life that these days.. those CONSIDERED gentleman by rank or status..... are generally speaking......the most untrustworthy shower of Ahem... bar stweards on the planet.... I'm talking thru hard earned experience...
in a society as institutionalised as the military, bigotry flourishes, weakness among their own ranks are preyed on...... mercilessly.... For good OR bad..... that's the way it's ALWAYS been.... it's only since women were permitted entry into what was previously a male domain that actions like this have been forced into the public eye...
As a former grunt... I can only remark on my disgust on reading stories like this... I'm disapointed.. but not in the least bit surprized...
As for the question....... SHOULD women be in the forces.... sure...... why not..... but surely.... if they're going to be defenders of their country... the should first and foremost be able to defend themselves....
JMHO...... for what it's worth.....
Posted by Mike | May 6, 2003 9:36 PM
Posted on May 6, 2003 21:36
I was thinking about going into the Airforce academy, but after reading this I am forced to think twice about it. Women should learn to defend themselves, but why should she have to against here own classmates, if the instructors aren't there keeping a somewhat decent living condition, what are they there for?
Posted by Andrea | March 20, 2004 2:51 PM
Posted on March 20, 2004 14:51
I spent 20 years in the Navy. I guess I believe I and the women I served with have/had a place. Stories like this bring up the wrong question. Do MEN belong in the military?
Posted by Nancy | May 19, 2004 10:29 PM
Posted on May 19, 2004 22:29
No one should take this completely to heart. In every business in the world there are bad apples. Yes, even in the military world, there are bad apples. Though I belive this young lady's future was ruined by this sad turn of event's, we need to keep in mind all of the good thing's the military has done for this country. Don't blame the Air Force for a small groups decisions. Past, present and future, our military will continue to endure. Remember, while they are cadets and future leaders of the free world, they are still young college students and make mistakes. Some of them huge. Don't give up on our Air Force, because we will never give up on you. One last thought. For the most part, all we ever hear from the press is the bad news, not the good.
Posted by MICHAEL | June 14, 2004 9:48 AM
Posted on June 14, 2004 09:48