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Punish assault violators

“You could look at a room of 100 female Marines, and you would see that most of them have been sexually assaulted in one way, shape or form.”

That alarming statement is all the more so because it was a rare, public admission of a crisis in the ranks made last month by the Corps’ top enlisted Marine, Sgt. Maj. Carlton Kent, in announcing a crackdown on sexual assaults.

Senior leaders typically don’t share such candor about embarrassing, shameful behavior by their Marines. But there is no denying the depth of the problem they face: Sexual assaults in the Corps rose 40 percent over the past three years, to 299 last year. And a survey of Marines and sailors last summer found that 60 percent consider sexual assault to be a problem.

Clearly, this problem did not materialize overnight — it is the outgrowth of years of under-reacting to violence and harassment aimed at female service members and tolerance of the crude, juvenile behavior that often triggers it.

Experts in sexual assault prevention, brought to Washington, D.C., in December to advise the Corps’ senior enlisted community on the right way forward, say that some Marines have misconstrued the military’s typically macho way of life to mean it’s OK to objectify, demean or even abuse women.

Certainly, the perpetrators represent only a fraction of the Corps. But all Marines will undergo new training and be directed to report inappropriate behavior and take steps to halt it.

This approach will help to an extent, but there must be severe repercussions for those who cross the line. Marine officials say there will be, vowing to aggressively pursue criminal charges and nonjudicial punishment where it’s warranted. It is essential they follow through on that promise. Marine Corps leaders simply no longer can excuse away or turn a blind eye toward harassment and sexual assault. They have a duty to enforce the Corps’ proud tradition of respect for all who have chosen to wear the uniform.