What Is Taking place at Fort Hood?

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“What’s occurring at Fort Hood?” That is the query I requested a congressional committee on July 29, 2020.

The listening to was designed to look at sexual harassment at Fort Hood, Texas, held lower than a month after the dismembered and burned stays of Spc. Vanessa Guillén, who had served on the base, had been discovered. Lower than three years later, I discover myself right here once more, dealing with yet one more demise of a younger, Latina soldier that’s being disregarded by the command of Fort Hood.

Pvt. Ana Fernanda Basaldua Ruiz died earlier this month after experiencing sexual harassment, her household has informed information shops. So I repeat, what is going on at Fort Hood?

After Guillén’s killing led to protests, an investigation launched in December 2020 discovered “main flaws” at Fort Hood and a command local weather that then-Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy described as “permissive of sexual harassment and sexual assault.” The Army ordered 14 officers, together with a number of high-ranking leaders, to be relieved of command or suspended.

A research launched in 2021 by the Rand Arroyo Middle, a federally funded analysis group, discovered that ladies at Fort Hood had a far greater danger of sexual assault than the typical girl within the Army. Researchers discovered that the full sexual assault danger to Army girls at Fort Hood in 2018 was 8.4%, in contrast with a 5.8% danger for all girls within the Army.

As an advocate myself, and as a part of a motion known as “the grassroot,” we proceed to work tirelessly on efforts to eradicate the permissiveness of sexual harassment and sexual assault within the navy. My largest concern is that, with modifications within the 2022 protection coverage invoice meant to assist fight sexual harassment and assault, bases like Fort Hood have ostensibly declared victory. However how will the Division of Protection and the Division of the Army maintain them accountable? Why does Fort Hood proceed to foster this sort of command local weather? I really feel that Fort Hood as a complete must be investigated, not simply particular person models that make headlines.

This case is all too private. I entered the navy on the age of 18, an Afro-Latina girl hoping that I might make a profession out of navy life. I wished to create fairness and present my patriotism towards this nation, however in 1992 it was taken away from me by the act of assault. You hear these tales all too usually. What I’ve realized on this house is that sexual harassment and sexual assault don’t discriminate. This can be a human challenge, one that may be a significant downside and must be a precedence for the navy. As a result of as numbers in assault and harassment go up, people wanting to affix the navy will begin taking place. Present Army Secretary Christine Wormuth has publicly mentioned that considerations about assault and harassment are already having an affect on recruiting.

Previous to my 2020 testimony, 23 troopers stationed at Fort Hood had died or been discovered lifeless that yr; 4 had been homicides, and 7 had been suicides. Just one demise occurred in fight. How do these numbers occur? What sort of place fosters a local weather that makes people need to take their very own lives? What sort of homicides are going down inside a navy set up?

What’s much more disturbing is that each one of this takes place behind a secured fence. If you happen to’re not aware of being within the navy house, you don’t have any concept this is occurring. Inform me, should not that make you involved?

And now one other demise, the case of Basaldua. The story sounds the identical: A younger Latina soldier, who at all times aspired to develop into a part of the navy, will get harassed and finally ends up lifeless. The place did it happen? Fort Hood. The Army clearly shouldn’t be being clear with what occurred, and the household wants solutions as a result of they should grieve. Fort Hood shouldn’t be permitting them to take action.

— Lucy Del Gaudio is the senior supervisor of variety, fairness and inclusion at EssilorLuxottica and an Army veteran. She at the moment serves because the chief working officer of The Pink Berets.

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