FORT BRAGG, N.C. (Reuters) - A spate of murders involving military spouses at the Fort Bragg army base has focused new attention on domestic violence in the U.S. armed services, which critics say the Pentagon has failed to adequately address.
Though the military acknowledges it could do a better job collecting statistics on domestic violence by service personnel, studies have suggested that abuse rates are two to three times higher than in the civilian population.
Defense Department estimates suggest incidents of domestic violence in the military rose from 18.6 per 1,000 marriages in 1990 to 25.6 per 1,000 in 1996. Rates fell slightly from 1997-1999 but there were more moderate to severe incidents.
The figures did not include an unknown number of cases not reported or handled informally by commanders, or violence against girlfriends or unmarried live-in partners, who have no legal standing in...
It looks like nothing much has changed about military like since MacArthur's days at West Point. Covering up abuse of power is a common thing. "Power corrupts but absolute power corrupts absolutly." Soldiers perform best, like the rest of us, when we are treated with the respect and dignity that God created us in. Teamwork and mutual respect are basic to sucess. Biblical principles for human relationships are needed. (Ephesians 6: 6-9) Should people be trained to kill in times of peace or when they are not going to need that training? Learning tactics and physical fitness as a part time occupation with a normal intergrated life may help to bring these forces personnel statistics back below the average. They should be lower if the stresses of job security and finance are removed by being a member of the armed forces.
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Paul Washer | 2/17/2011
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