Washington - Sexual harassment and discrimination are widespread in the US army, according to a report issued by the army itself after a 10-month review, writes Joe Carroll.The review was ordered following revelations of serious sexual abuse of woman soldiers at the Aberdeen training base near Washington last November. A dozen drill sergeants at the base were charged with rape and less serious crimes, while a telephone hotline received more than 1,000 allegations of harassment against women throughout the armed services.
The two-volume report released by the Secretary of the Army, Mr Togo West, said: "Sexual harassment exists throughout the army, crossing gender, rank and racial lines".
It said that "inappropriate behaviours are commonplace. . .further, soldiers seem to accept such behaviours as a normal part of army life".
The survey shows that 78 per cent of women and 76 per cent of the men interviewed had experienced "crude or offensive behaviour" during the past year. Some 72 per cent of the women and 63 per cent of the men had experienced "sexist behaviour" and 47 per cent of the women and 30 per cent of the men received "unwanted sexual attention".