Jezebel: Military

An Ex-Marine Explains Why Military Women Shouldn't 'Expect' to Be Raped

Sarah Anderson — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:55:00 EST

From 2003-2008, I was a United States Marine. Trained as a Russian Linguist, I worked as a Security, Governance, and Economics Analyst. "Property of male Marines" was never in my job description, and therefore I should never have had to "expect" to be raped. Nowhere in my enlistment contract, not even in the fine print, did I agree to sexual assault as a part of the job. Fox News pundit Liz Trotta's comments suggesting that servicewomen should "expect" to be raped because they're in "close contact" with their male colleagues are beyond ignorant; they fall into the category of hate speech. More »

Women in the Military Should Just Expect to Be Raped, Says Fox News Asshole

Erin Gloria Ryan — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:40:00 EST

In addition calling participants in Occupy Wall Street "ravers who sound like the Unibomber" and asking for what sounded a lot like Barack Obama's assassination, Fox News commentator Liz Trotta can add a dubious new achievement to her resume: person who officially thinks that United State's servicewomen who are raped by their fellow soldiers should've seen it coming. What did they expect? More »

Santorum Meant to Say It's Ladies' Weakness, Not Emotions, That Keeps Them Out of Combat

Cassie Murdoch — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST

Last week, Rick Santorum said he didn't think women should be allowed in combat because the "types of emotions that are involved." Well, he's since clarified his position, and it turns out he wasn't referring to women's out of control emotions but men's. You see, he's worried that male soldiers would get themselves in trouble because they couldn't resist the primal urge to take care of their little women comrades in need. More »

Rick Santorum Says Women Aren't Fit for Combat Because They're Just So Emotional

Cassie Murdoch — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:20:00 EST

Pretty much every time he opens his mouth, Rick Santorum manages to commit some kind of flagrant foul, but yesterday he really delivered a doozy. This time it was on the matter of ladies in combat, and Santorum was quick to praise the women of the military, saying he "wants to create every opportunity for women to be able to serve this country." He should have stopped right there, because after that he stepped into a big old pile of horse shit. More »

Should Female Marines Get a Break?

Erin Gloria Ryan — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:30:00 EST

A plan to make the physical requirements more difficult for aspiring female US Marines by requiring full pull-ups has been postponed indefinitely. And as it stands now, women interested in becoming lady Leathernecks must meet lower physical standards than their male counterparts. But for jobs that require brute physical strength, is it fair to give women a break? Yes, and no. More »

Reports Of Sexual Assault At Military Academies Increase Drastically

Margaret Hartmann — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 22:17:00 EST

Today the Defense Department released its "Annual Report on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the Military Service Academies," which found that during the 2010-2011 academic year there were 65 reports of sexual assault at the three top military academies, up from 41 the previous year. Those are pretty concerning numbers, but the Pentagon has made tackling the problem a priority. Certainly that's why it quickly released this information two days after Christmas, rather than waiting until everyone's back from vacation. More »

Egyptian Court Wisely Bans Military's Use Of Virginity Tests

Cassie Murdoch — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 12:05:00 EST

Finally a bit of positive news on the treatment of women protesters in Egypt: today a court issued an order banning those awful virginity tests that were being performed on female detainees after the March 9th protests in Cairo's Tahrir Square. More »

The Best Holiday/Military Photo You Will See Today

Erin Gloria Ryan — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:30:00 EST

Traditionally, after a Navy ship docks, one serviceman or woman aboard is chosen to be first to greet their loved one with a kiss. Thanks to the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, today, for the first time ever, that lucky sailor was gay, and that kiss was between two women. More »

Egypt's Military Carries Out Violent Attacks On Women Protesters

Cassie Murdoch — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 13:05:00 EST

Egypt's military rulers continue carry out a brutal crackdown on protesters in Cairo. Fighting has been ongoing for the last several days, and more than 300 people have been injured and at least nine people have been killed. In a shocking scene yesterday, troops viciously attacked a crowd of protesters—in one case (seen in the video below) dragging a woman's body though the street and pulling off her shirt and hijab, leaving her bra and bare torso exposed. More »

Spanx Thoughtfully Outfits Our Troops With Stomach-Flattening Shapewear

Anna North — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:30:00 EST

Apparently Spanx thinks our troops are looking a little less than svelte lately. So they've sent them a thoughtful Christmas present — some shaping undershirts to help them "feel support in a whole new way." More »

Military Rape Victims In Need of Abortions Should Just Suck it Up, Says Senate

Erin Gloria Ryan — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:50:00 EST

Civilians who work for the government are able to use their government-funded insurance to pay for abortion if they're victims of rape or incest, but not our female servicemembers. And now, thanks to frustrating inaction from the Senate yesterday, the unbelievably stupid restriction on abortion for military victims of rape continues apace. Sorry, ladies. You should have tried not being so rapeable if you didn't want to have a baby. More »

Gay Service Members Sue Government To Overturn DOMA

Margaret Hartmann — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 22:17:00 EDT

Last month homosexuals serving in the military won a huge battle in the fight for gay rights when Don't Ask, Don't Tell was repealed, and now they're taking on the other major federal policy that discriminates against gay people: The Defense of Marriage Act. In a lawsuit filed today in Boston, a group of legally married gay and lesbian servicemembers demanded that the military recognize their unions and provide benefits to their spouses. More »

Gay Troops On Active Duty Say Coming Out Has Been A Pretty Mixed Bag

Lane Moore — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 12:45:00 EDT

Like many victories, you take the bad with the good. For the GLBT military folks who attended the first-ever gay military personnel convention, OutServe, in Las Vegas yesterday the good has been the non-stop support and "shrugs" they received after they came out and the opportunities that are now opening up for them. More »

Michele Bachmann Would Reinstate DADT

Erin Gloria Ryan — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 19:20:00 EDT

Michele Bachmann, GOP Presidential hopeful from the Land of 10,000 WTF's, says she would reinstate the American military's newly-lifted Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy if elected President. More »

Republican Debate Audience Boos Gay Soldier

Margaret Hartmann — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 23:45:00 EDT

Here's the lowlight from tonight's Fox News/YouTube Republican debate: People in the audience booed a soldier who asked the candidates if they'd work to reinstate "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." To top it off, Rick Santorum declared that repealing the ban gave openly gay servicemembers special rights. He said: More »

A Nation Celebrates The "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Repeal

Anna North — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:05:00 EDT

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" finally died at midnight last night, meaning thousands of people can serve openly in the military for the first time. Here are a few of them, and their partners, in celebration of the repeal.
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'Don't Ask Don't Tell' Is Officially Over

Margaret Hartmann — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:01:00 EDT

As of 12:01 tonight, homosexuals are allowed to serve openly in the U.S. military! Though Republicans recently tried one last time to stall the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" by claiming the new rules haven't been adequately examined, Pentagon press secretary George Little said on Monday that 97% of the military has undergone training on the new law. He added, "No one should be left with the impression that we are unprepared. We are prepared for repeal." In a few hours the Pentagon will start acting on applications it's received from openly gay recruits, and official "Repeal Day" celebrations are scheduled around the country — but feel free to hold one wherever you are. More »

Republicans Make Last Ditch Effort To Stop DADT Repeal

Margaret Hartmann — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 10:40:00 EDT

The Pentagon has announced that "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" will be officially repealed on Tuesday, but Republicans are having a hard time accepting that the military won't be allowed to discriminate against homosexuals anymore. This week two Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee asked Defense Secretary Leon Panetta to delay the repeal because Congress hasn't seen a copy of the new rules yet. More »

Are Shows About Surprise Military Reunions Hurting Kids?

Margaret Hartmann — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 14:20:00 EDT

There are few things more heartwarming than seeing troops safely return to their families, and there are now two new reality shows that capitalize on this: Lifetime's Coming Home and TLC's Surprise Homecoming. The producers say the goal is to showcase uplifting stories about military personnel and create special moments for the families, but experts say filming a parent's surprise return may put extra stress on children. More »

Soldier Stages Elaborate Romcom-style Ruse to Surprise Wife After Returning From Duty

Erin Gloria Ryan — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 17:32:18 EDT

Air Force Band Performs Amazing "Rolling In The Deep" Cover

Margaret Hartmann — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 23:55:00 EDT

There are plenty of reasons to be impressed by members of the U.S. Air Force, and now you can add this to the list: Their ability to pull off a cover of Adele's "Rolling In The Deep" even better than the kids on Glee. More »

Obama Certifies “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Repeal

Lane Moore — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 11:35:00 EDT

Sure, there's an insane heat wave hitting America and we're nearing a theoretical doomsday but I have to say, I never tire of hearing about the string of victories we're seeing in the LGBT community. Especially victories like this one. More »

What The Military Focused On Instead Of Sex Crimes

Melissa Jeltsen — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 14:58:00 EDT

Sexual assault is infamously one of the most under-reported crimes in America—only 40 percent of victims come forward to police. But in the military, where service-members must often work, socialize and live together, the problem is even more pronounced: The Department of Defense believes that only an anemic 13 percent of victims report assaults. With an estimated 19,000 assaults taking place each year, that's bad, bad news. More »

Female Soldiers Challenge Gender Restrictions In Combat

Anna North — Mon, 30 May 2011 16:30:00 EDT

Women aren't supposed to serve in military units whose primary focus is ground combat, but that doesn't mean they don't fight. And the prohibitions against combat may actually be bad for female soldiers. More »

Should Women Serve In Special Forces?

Irin Carmon — Fri, 20 May 2011 14:35:00 EDT

Should qualified women be able to enter special ops units like the SEALs who killed Osama Bin Laden? That's what Jezebel founding editor Anna Holmes argues in The Washington Post today. Maybe the question, suggested by a recent study on PTSD and women in the military, is whether the military is ready for them. More »

"Giddy Schoolgirls" Who Report On The Military

Irin Carmon — Mon, 16 May 2011 17:20:00 EDT

When it comes to the military, says one former diplomat, the media are totally gay. Or girly. To wit: More »

The Navy Won't Perform Same-Sex Marriages After All

Irin Carmon — Wed, 11 May 2011 16:27:00 EDT

Thanks to a backlash from congressmen (and four congresswomen), the Navy is backing away from its officer's memo saying that chaplains could perform gay marriages on bases as soon as Don't Ask, Don't Tell's repeal goes into effect. More »

First Women Arrive For Submarine Training

Irin Carmon — Tue, 10 May 2011 11:20:00 EDT

Previously, the Navy prohibited women from serving on submarines "on the theory that the close quarters and long deployments were unsuitable for coed crews." So far, only officers are eligible because it wouldn't require modifying accommodations. More »

Vintage Propaganda Posters Warn Against STD-Riddled Women

Whitney Jefferson — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 17:53:00 EDT

Before Weapons of Mass Destruction, American soliders faced a different type of war-time casualty: venereal disease. While we remember the posters of Uncle Sam declaring "I Want You to Join the U.S. Army", the Army was also concerned that their potential recruits were clean. More »

Military Paper: "Will Women Weaken The Infantry?"

Irin Carmon — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 11:30:00 EDT

The actual story is behind a paywall, but we're going to go ahead and say that it's a leading question. The issue has brought renewed interest after a Congressional panel recommended that the military open all roles, including combat, to women. More »

Shattering Voices From The Military Rape Lawsuit, Verbatim

Irin Carmon — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 13:04:45 EST

Last week, a group of women and men sued Defense Secretary Robert Gates and his predecessor, Donald Rumsfeld, for creating a culture that enabled and protected their rapists. The words in this video are taken directly from their complaint. More »

This Is Not a Lost Scene From Aliens

Jessica Coen — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 13:26:00 EST

When I first came across this image, I thought it was from a lost Aliens scene. But it is real. That's Staff Sgt. Sarah Mrak, from the 4th Special Operations Squadron. And she's inside a U.S. Air Force AC-130U aerial gunship. [Gizmodo] More »

Women And Men Sue Military For Enabling Their Rapists

Irin Carmon — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 15:01:31 EST

Today, over a dozen women and two men have sued the Pentagon for standing by, or "turning a blind eye," as they were raped and assaulted. More »

Michelle Obama Applauds Service With A Smile

Margaret Hartmann — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 15:27:00 EST

[South Carolina, January 27: First lady Michelle Obama claps for U.S. Army basic combat training graduates at Fort Jackson. Obama talked with Army leaders about how childhood obesity and physical inactivity affect military readiness. Image via AP.]

Let Women Soldiers Serve in Combat, Says Panel

Lauri Apple — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 12:00:02 EST

Women soldiers can serve in combat support roles, but not in straight-up combat. A military panel made up of current and retired officers wants the Pentagon to change that. What kinds of craptastic opposing arguments can we expect to hear? More »

Work-Life Balance For Ultra-Orthodox Female Soldiers

Irin Carmon — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 11:45:00 EST

Ten married Ultra-Orthodox women will join the Israeli army, in an unusual move. (Religiousness, marriage, and pregnancy are reasons for exemption from conscription.) Also, "The women will be permitted to take their young children to the bases where they serve." More »

Anxieties Revealed In New Networking Site For Gays In Military

Anna North — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 17:23:00 EST

Now that the Don't Ask, Don't Tell repeal is in motion, a new social networking site for gay servicemembers has come online. But it may still not be safe to post on it. More »

Celebrities Predictably Make "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Repeal All About Them

Erin Gloria Ryan — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 11:35:00 EST

Yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Tweeted "WE DID IT" to Lady Gaga and Gaga in turn reported she cried tears of joy over the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal's passage in the Senate. Oh, brother. More »

Reported Sexual Assaults Up 64% At Military Academies

Anna North — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 09:36:00 EST

Sexual assaults at US military academies were up 64% last academic year, according to a Defense Dept. report. And while the Air Force had the biggest increase, they may actually be doing the most to combat assault. More »

Bea Arthur's Secret Past As A Truck-Driving Marine

Dodai Stewart — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 12:21:00 EST

In 1943, when she was 21 and known as Bernice Frankel, Bea Arthur enlisted in the military. Recently unearthed documents reveal she came across as a tough broad, even then. More »