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Report underscores Army's ineffectiveness to prevent sexual assaults in Korea

Filipino women stand in the doorway of one of the juicy bars in The Ville -- just outside Camp Casey in South Korea -- as a group of soldiers walks by in July, 2009.
Jon Rabiroff/Stars and Stripes file photo
Sexual assault task force report 8th Army task force executive summary
By Ashley Rowland
Stars and Stripes
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Published: May 21, 2013
SongtanPatrol_OsanAirBase_shopping052213STRIPES
U.S. servicemembers and local nationals walk down the main street of the Shinjang Shopping Mall, the entertainment district just outside the front gate of Osan Air Base in South Korea that is home to numerous shops, restaurants and bars on March 16, 2013.
Armando Limon/Stars and Stripes
SEOUL – Failed leadership, easy access to alcohol and mixed messages about questionable off-post establishments have rendered the Army’s sexual assault prevention programs in South Korea largely ineffective, according to a military study.
Stars and Stripes obtained a copy of a 28-page draft report produced by a sexual assault task force formed in spring 2011 to study the problem. For nearly two years, Eighth Army officials have refused repeated requests from Stars and Stripes for the report, instead providing a one-page summary this month.
The draft report documented the Army’s inability to respond to what it described as “special circumstances” in South Korea that might contribute to sexual assaults, including widespread underage drinking.
It was particularly critical of the Eighth Army’s sexual assault prevention training, which is “perceived as a mandated check-the-block requirement to be quickly completed rather than training to a level of working knowledge.” PowerPoint presentations were often used when interaction and small group discussions would have been more appropriate, and leadership was often not directly involved in training, the draft report said.
Among the task force’s other findings:
  • There is a lack of knowledge among leadership about how to handle reported sexual assaults. The report implied that leaders, along with their subordinates, might not even be able to distinguish between consensual sex and sexual assault. “Questions remain about what constitutes consent,” the draft said.
  •  Victims who are under the legal drinking age were afraid to report an attack if they had been drinking, fearing punishment by the military.
  •  Leaders often felt inadequately prepared to handle sexual assault incidents, and inadequate response training for leadership at the company- and small-unit level was problematic.
  •  The lack of leadership presence in the barracks was a source of widespread concern and criticism among soldiers. Security problems were also noted.
  •  There was an inappropriate blurring of lines between superiors and subordinates. “The chain of command needs to reinforce with officers and NCOs the separation between the ranks, fraternization policies and appropriate superior-subordinate relationships.”
  •  There was a lack of female unit victim advocates at small, predominantly male installations, and victims at these small outposts had to be transported to distant medical facilities for forensic evaluations. The report also noted that most commanders did not understand the role and responsibility of unit victim advocates.
  •  Soldiers had few options for late-night activities besides visiting local bars and nightclubs, some of which may reinforce behavior and attitudes that contribute to sexual assault. The draft report noted the “contradicting messages portrayed in the facilities patronized off-post, which send a message in support of sexual activity and contrary to the values of proper conduct. This may lead the malleable to engage in conduct that they know is not acceptable.”
Notably absent from the report was any direct mention of the infamous South Korean “juicy bars,” the seedy entertainment establishments that commonly cluster near the gates of U.S. military bases across South Korea. Human rights groups, as well as the U.S. State Department, have cited the juicy bars as conduits for prostitution and human trafficking, but American commanders continue to allow U.S. servicemembers to patronize the bars as long as the establishments have not been caught directly engaging in illegal activities.
The military said it has taken a number of steps to address the problems pointed out by the task force and has made significant progress in informing soldiers about their rights and the Army’s policies and procedures regarding sexual assault.
“I think the first and primary objective that we’re after is to make sure that soldiers feel that they can come forward if they’ve been a victim of sexual assault,” said Brig. Gen. Chris Gentry, the current head of the task force. Gentry is the Eighth Army’s deputy commanding general for sustainment.
The Eighth Army’s Prevention of Sexual Assault Task Force was formed in 2011 to assess the climate in South Korea regarding sexual assault among soldiers and the effectiveness of the Army’s current programs. According to military officials at the time, the task force was initially scheduled to present its findings to the Eighth Army commander within a matter of months.
However, nearly two years later, Eighth Army officials say that the report has yet to be finalized and approved by leadership, even though some of the task force’s recommendations, such as the installation of closed-circuit cameras in barracks, were enacted more than a year ago.
Officials who gave Stars and Stripes a background briefing on the report described the draft as a “living document” that was constantly evolving as the task force continued its work. They said the document has not been finalized because the task force still meets on a monthly basis and because of turnover of its membership.
“This is a continuing process,” one official said. “It isn’t as clean as just establishing a task force and then delivering a report and tying a bow at the end.”
Said another: “I think as the task force evolved, the report became less and less important than the actions that the task force was taking to mitigate the problem here on the peninsula.”
The task force conducted focus group sessions at Army installations of varying sizes across the peninsula, including Camps Humphrey, Carroll, Walker, Red Cloud, Casey, Yongsan and Suwon Air Base. More than 200 junior enlisted troops, senior noncommissioned officers, commanders and personnel tasked with responding to sexual assaults were interviewed or participated in facilitator-led discussions, and random interviews were conducted with other servicemembers.
Task force members also visited barracks, medical facilities and reviewed unit sexual assault statistics and the disposition of cases.
When asked to provide the statistics reviewed by the task force, Eighth Army officials said last week that they did not know what data was used, and they were unable provide statistics about the frequency of sexual assaults among its troops.
In May 2011, then-Brig. Gen. David Conboy, a former Eighth Army deputy commanding general who headed the 11-member task force in its early days and has since been promoted to major general, told Stars and Stripes that the group was not being formed in response to a single incident, but as broader effort to study the unit’s sexual assault prevention and response measures.
“We just can’t afford to have anybody lost from our formation here in the fast pace of Korea,” he said at the time.
The Army’s one-page summary focuses mostly on the task force’s background and methods for gathering information.
Also included in the summary was a list of risk factors for sexual assault contained in a 2009 Department of Defense report, as well as nine vague recommendations made by the task force, including “establish better leadership awareness” and “create a culture of accountability and foster healthy relationship(s).”
Gentry said the military is measuring the success of the task force’s efforts not by statistics, but by responses from servicemembers.
“I think what we rely on primarily is the feedback that we get from leaders and soldiers, and what we’re getting back to this point indicates that there is increased awareness of the issue of sexual assault,” Gentry said.
The report paints a grimmer picture of the climate surrounding sexual assaults in Korea than that portrayed by U.S. military officials.
“Local policies and procedures abound which attempt to control alcohol use, reduce after hours and weekend indiscipline, define barracks safety, govern training, and define handling of victims,” the report stated. “These policies are often not well enforced, fail to establish adequate accountability, are widely misunderstood, and vary sufficiently to cause confusion within and external to organizations.”
The Eighth Army task force draft report described a typical sexual assault as taking place between a low-ranking female soldier who recently arrived on the peninsula and an older male non-commissioned officer who is no longer considered new in country and has exhibited “mixed evidence of predatory behavior.” The soldiers are usually acquainted, even if they only met a few hours earlier, and the assault is often “date rape” that occurs in the barracks.
Alcohol is usually involved, which is the case in many sexual assaults in the military, regardless of where in the world they take place. However, curbing the use of alcohol presents an especially difficult problem for the military in South Korea, where heavy drinking is socially acceptable and is even viewed as a healthy way for friends and coworkers to bond. Alcohol is cheap and easily available, and the legal drinking age is lower than the States.
And even though U.S. Forces Korea policy sets the legal drinking age at 21, the report said the combination of “extraordinary” peer pressure and a culture among junior enlisted soldiers that encourages alcohol consumption led to problematic underage drinking.
Frequent field exercises and training programs may also encourage heavy drinking by creating “extended periods of prohibited alcohol consumption throughout the year,” the draft report said.
“In many cases, Soldiers are at the greatest risk of indiscipline immediately following long exercises, due to the compulsion to make up for lost social life,” it said.

Making changes

As a result of the task force’s work, the Eighth Army has taken a number of steps aimed at preventing and better responding to sexual assaults, though it was unclear whether those measures have reduced the number of assaults or had any effect in changing the underlying attitudes and behaviors that contribute to them.
The draft report offered an extensive list of recommendations, from purchasing training mannequins for medical personnel to use to practice forensic exams to finding activities for soldiers that do not involve drinking, such as U.S. Army Garrison Daegu’s Dodgeball Against Sexual Assault program.
Also recommended was the installation of closed-circuit television cameras in barracks. While touting the cameras as a preventative measure and a possible source of evidence in criminal cases, the draft report noted it was uncertain if the cameras – which cost an average of $10,000 per barracks – would thwart sexual assaults, and that “effective programs by leadership, not technological security, are more effective deterrent(s).”
Gentry noted that training is a continuous process in a theater with rapid turnover of soldiers, many of whom are on their first assignment. He said leaders now hold small group discussions with soldiers about sexual assault, with younger leaders receiving more training about sexual assault prevention and incoming commanders receiving briefings from sexual assault response personnel.
The Eighth Army also tried to tackle drinking by issuing an order in November 2012 that stopped alcohol sales at on-base shoppettes and liquor stores at 10 p.m. and limited the amount of alcohol soldiers can keep in their barracks room. It also mandated that on-post clubs take steps to identify underage patrons, such as issuing wristbands, and prohibited the sale of pitchers of beer that could easily be distributed to underage drinkers.
More than a year ago, the Eighth Army began allowing soldiers to go off-post only if they are accompanied by a “battle buddy” during their first 90 days on the peninsula.
Officials said the Eighth Army task force has been so successful that similar efforts are under way at the U.S. Forces Korea and Pacific-wide levels. Meanwhile, the task force continues to hold monthly meetings about sexual assault with senior officials from all Eighth Army commands.
"I don’t think anybody is under the illusion that we’re ever going to eradicate the problem, but I think what we can do is mitigate it through prevention, response and care to the best of our ability,” Gentry said. “We’re absolutely committed to that.”
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  • parkerds61

    Got to love the picture, the girls are under the "Good Snack" sign.

  • Dennis Parham

    What can one expect from a situation where young men (and women) are sent to a foreign country, told they cannot utilize prostitutes (so they are expected to be celibate), told not to drink, told not to fraternize, and are provided very few alternative outlets? Come on, people, we all have needs... social, sexual, emotional, etc. Remember being told about Maslow's Hierarchy of needs? I don't condone rape and changes need to be made to provide for our folks overseas.

  • Robert Glen Murrell Jr

    Then they should marry. You can be fulfilled in a good marriage.

  • B_stein

    I'm all for getting a bit drunk and having a good time. I also believe prostitution should be completely legal. But come on, don't get so drunk you lose all control, get violent and don't be a violent, retarded, maniac, putz and attack or assault woman.
    Having a fun night of drinking with your mates is a military tradition, as well as waking up with a woman in your bed, but there is a way to take part in this without losing your cool. Assaults on the locals and violence, should be punished harshly IMO.

  • Robert Glen Murrell Jr

    So getting disease should be legalized?

  • Keeping it real

    How about you lay off the whole church thing.

  • Michael Hasbun

    Getting a disease is not illegal.

  • Ikram Ghouri

    The same story we had in Germany and later on they were fed with prostitute. This is the ugly picture of american soldiers as their mind set is american to catch the girls and rape and is nothing new.
    Even japan still suffering from such accidentrs. Americans must call back their troops to save american image.

  • rharwell

    Wherever the US has a base, small or large, boots on the ground there will be cases of rape, No means yes and maybe, there will be drinking and men will be men. This was throughout occupied/invaded US history (As well as other countries, Why single out S. Korea? How about Taiwan, the Philippines, Japan, Hawaii, all US bases as well as those in the ME, the UK, Europe, the Med and Africa. These incidents are no different than what occurred in Vietnam and the entire military system throughout the Vietnam conflict. Get a grip. Control of this issue is a no-brainer and will never happen. It's a great PR moment however. Wow, we tried but just couldn't get a handle on it!

  • doctor_ozzy1

    The most ironic part is that some people actually believe that the working girls come from the Phillipines not knowing exactly what they will be doing in S. Korea. Talk about being naive. Most of their friends, older siblings, aunts and mothers have briefed them thoroughly long ago.

  • PadreTuck

    What a joke. Of course fraternization policies need to be enforced and emphasized regularly. Consensual sex also takes place the day of the act, not when a person has second thoughts the next day. Getting drunk is also consensual. No needs to be clearly indicated and understood.
    But, if you think you will keep soldiers in any countrie's Army, out of bars where there women in their off duty hours, then you must be smoking some exotic weed.

  • parkerds61

    The politically correct masses will try and fail when restricting access to bars and women.

  • parkerds61

    HEY, that girl in the pink dress, I know her. She told me she was a seamstress!

  • Michael Hasbun

    I'm guessing you meant seamstress?

  • Michael Hasbun

    LOL.. You tried to correct it, and it's STILL misspelled =o)

  • parkerds61

    :-) I think I got it right now.

  • Michael Hasbun

    You did =o) I've been there, I hate when that happens..

  • DaveSAM55USD1

    Recommendations only! The blame game helps nobody here - action and teamwork are more important= (Solutions)...There are many limitations once activity goes on outside the gates (Jurisdiction) by SOFA and enforcement on UCMJ members yes but other's would require KNP Involvement - education are vital. Technology impacts this with text messages and cell phones people are more mobile - transactions made over this medium. Although USFK enforces a 21 year old drinking age host nation is 19, also many are given alcohol by somebody who is over 21. You can tighten enforcement off post but then things seem to move farther out where Town patrols may not be - and many times the only time you would know is if an incident happened or KNP picked up a person call to LE Desk. Jurisdiction can be an issue as you are outside the USA and authority to act on certain things is not in your purview. That does not mean we cannot improve what is and that is team effort for solutions! The real solution is part leadership but mostly the individuals (who are all adults if they are over (18) themselves to do the right thing as many times alcohol clouds this area and good behavior and judgment go out the door. This requires action when indicators appear and yes you may be the bad guy for intervening but it will save career's and lessen the risks of victimization...I am going to do some more research and try and provide some solutions to the problems there are best practices other's use we may be able to adapt to this way...I had a boss one time show we the think outside the box theory - better yet don't create the box and you won't have to think outside of - then you are truly squared away right? For Law Enforcement Operations which impacts this area - there is a very special guide I have used since mid-90's Called COMMAND LEADERSHIP KEITH D. BUSHEY updated continually over the past three decades and is used ...Offers a treasure trove of leadership examples and actions to move forward. I quote from booklet (FBI Leadership Courage Knowledge (LEED Program) I received this through my membership in the Police Supervisors Association and was also mentioned in American Society for Law Enforcement Training (ASLET) this does have many of the factors to assist the team - you should add to your toolbox.
    "It is critical for all of us to realize that there is a big difference between the leader and the manager. We often throw these terms around loosely and interchangeably, but the difference is like night and day. More so than any other single factor, the difference between a productive and positive workplace, and one that is less so, is the person in charge. Attending schools and reading all the available literature is a good start in the right direction, but it is just the beginning. The development of leadership skills requires time in the trenches, pain, learning from our mistakes and those of others, a genuine respect for those we are honored to lead, a recognition that we don’t know it all, and continuous professional development.
    This booklet is intended primarily to fine-tune the leadership skills of the tenured manager. This material is not intended to replace the volumes of other writings in the leadership and management arena, but rather to assist leaders in recognizing and addressing special challenges, both individual and organizational, and to be reminded of those areas where even well-experienced individuals sometimes falter. This booklet certainly has applicability for less experienced managers as well, and has the very real potential to accelerate professional growth as someone transitions beyond being a manager to becoming a leader as well.
    This booklet has evolved and grown over a span of almost three decades, and is a reflection of a great deal of pain, suffering, and mistakes! Many years ago I approached my boss, a very tenured staff officer, with a very complicated problem and, when he told me how to handle the issue, I told him how impressed I was with his knowledge and wisdom. He replied that he was not all that smart, but that he had been around for so long and had made every mistake possible, and that he had stumbled across the right answers through the process of elimination! I think that he was wiser than he let on, and that he was very accurate in what he said. This booklet has evolved with the assistance of a number of very credible leaders who have also stumbled across the right
    answers through the process of elimination, and who have been generous in sharing those experiences for the benefit of those who have followed them in the leadership trenches..
    Finally, another of our greatest and most solemn responsibilities is to pass critical skills and knowledge to others who aspire to position of leadership. For the leader, there is no greater workplace joy than to celebrate the victories and achievements of those individuals around you, and to witness the advancement and successes of those you mentored. Mutual respect and credibility creates more freedom, support, and latitude. A lesser relationship often translates into less freedom, support, and latitude. Hopefully, this chapter will be helpful in developing and maintaining a quality relationship with the person for whom you work.
    As with all of my writings, these enclosures may be reprinted, including any desired modifications, without permission. Attribution is appreciated."
    "Chief KEITH D. BUSHEY" Thank you sir!

  • Joe Plasmodium

    Sexual Assault is bad news, but I'm sick of all the articles/coverage of how the Military is ineffective with it's prevention and management of it. Fact is more than 50% of SA/SH case in Military go to trial, in civilian world it's 11%. The rate of SA is also significantly lower in the Military as well.
    Don't get me wrong we need to continue to work on it and get better, but civilian news agencies need to stop pissing in our cheerios and look at their own population before coming around and bashing ours.

  • doctor_ozzy1

    You won't be posting here long. If you don't toe the party line you don't get the 'privelege' of speaking your mind.

  • Marina Calis

    I agree it is failed leadership that aids the bad behaviour! I have contacted one LT at FLW about my a soldier who is having incest with his daughter,another family member and even has sexually assaulted me.The only punishment he gets is a written counseling statement.He has even told me how his commander has laughed with him about some of his abuses! wow

  • otisrneedleman

    Oh, for the old days in the ville. Plenty of available women downtown. No need to misbehave with a female military member.

  • Spiritofthebayonet

    At a dining inn in 1981, MG Robert "Barbwire Bob" Kingston then 2ID Commanding General, a great leader and a brave soldier, told me and some others that the first thing he wanted to know in the morning was the pregnancy rate among female soldiers assigned to the division. This is a startling case of the obvious and sexual misconduct among US troops has been going on in Korea as long as US forces have been there (September 1945), that prostitution was a legal thing and junior soldiers were on unaccompanied tours. A cold Korean winter in a cold barracks or a hot and humid one in a stifling barracks after returning from the field (many of the miscreants do not go to the field) means going to an offpost club that is either warmly heated or air conditioned. I have never seen anything like the alcohol consumption that takes place in Korea by unaccompanied soldiers to include married personnel certainly nothing like it in Conus or Europe and officers and NCOs were as guilty. We have long worn out our welcome, allowed South Korea to become an economic competitor while propping up an underfunded ROK military and have mostly served as a bank for local economies. US presence should have been rapidly phased out starting no later than 1995 but we are still there with even more Federal employees than military. Next to Israel, the Korea lobby has the ear of every administration back to Truman.

  • Tospeakthetruth

    You make a good point regarding leaving.
    As a reminder, we have pulled out of other comparable cesspools, like the Philippines, with no ill effect. Perhaps it is time to go…..

  • Jason

    Granted my visit was to Osan, a mini deployment. I was in the USMC also. We had zero incidents of that nature for our 2 deployments there. This was roughly about 3 months total. So it's not a apples to apples comparison at all. It was also in the 90's.. If you don't have a consential sexual outlet for the single military members you are setting yourself up for rape. The vast majority of men will / would ever stoop to that at all. But combine alcohol, lonliness and attractive women and some men will use it as an excuse. Giving other nightly activities is also a joke. If you have no interest in socializing in the bar scene you will find your own outlet. Other than that the Army could always use a little more dicipline (had to throw that in there) :-)

  • Robert Glen Murrell Jr

    Do you want the real answer to the problem? Jesus is the real answer, but since most of you( those who are unbelievers) will reject this answer, then you will remain the same and not change. If we emphasized godly leadership, biblical family values and what is acceptable behavior and hold irresponsible folks feet to the fire. Serving in the Armed Forces used to be a source of pride, now it is a big mockery. Now we want to be politically correct and not hurt nobody's feelings we have this problem Service-wide. If you want it to be right, then you know the answer.

  • parkerds61

    Religion has killed and raped more people than any other reason in the history of man.

  • scoobydoo

    Thank you for your comment. THINK "THE CRUSADES" .....

  • SempliceCittadino

    Oh yes, military members "used" to behave themselves all the time! I remember those days. My bible-totting boss was the biggest letch of all.

  • Michael Hasbun

    Biblical leadership? Like slavery, the crusades, the witch hunts, and the holocaust?

  • scoobydoo

    My thanks AGAIN. We NOW know where we stand, DON'T WE ???

  • BD

    No Michael, Robert is right. Rape, genocide, slavery and incest are, and always have been, military vaules because it says so in bible! If he needs the bible not to rape, murder, etc then 1) he probably needs to read the bible and 2) i say we let me so he doesn't get all rapey and murdery

  • Robert Glen Murrell Jr

    Let me burst your bubble Michael, biblical leadership has nothing to do with religion(man-made religion), slavery, witch hunts, the crusades that murdered true Christians(Roman catholicism false god worship) or the holocaust. It is not my fault that slave masters used the Word of God incorrectly. It's not my fault that some people have been duped by false television preachers. The only slaves there are, is the ones who are slaves to sin. God desires that everyone accept Jesus Christ. he gives us a choice. I am not here to condemn anyone, there is no need for me to do so. Jesus said in John 3:36" he that belives not on the Son of God is already condemned." Too many times folks reject God like has not said anything concerning righteous living. I'm just going to say this, It is your perogative if you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior or not. John 7:16-17(ESV)
    16 Jesus answered, “What I teach is not my own. My teaching comes from the one who sent me. 17 People who really want to do what God wants will know that my teaching comes from God. They will know that this teaching is not my own. So I want to encourage you to give your life to Jesus Christ. Because trust me, you will see this again. There is a date that none of us will miss and that is an appointment at the Judgement seat of Christ(where Crhist judges the believers or the Great White Throne Judgment(where God sentences the unbelievers to eternal damnation)Rev 20:11

  • Michael Hasbun

    This is the part where I quote a ton of bible statements that tell you you're wrong, Then you quote a bunch that contradict mine. Then I point out how interesting it is that the word of god contradicts itself so much, almost as if it was made up as they went along, then you disagree, and then we accomplish nothing... Summed well?

  • parkerds61

    Is not the Pope a biblical leader? How many Crusades and other wars were fought because of his word to do so?
    Is not the leader of the Moors or current Islamic countries biblical leaders? How many have they killed?

  • PadreTuck

    What did you do, have a guilty conscience after a trip to the Ville...and start a new life. Good on you

  • Robert Glen Murrell Jr

    Never been to Ville, never been stationed in Korea. I came to the realization that there was a better life than living a life of sin. The Word of God convicted me of how I was living and I wanted to do what was right in the sight of God. Based upon how I was raised in Church, but didn't want to go to church as a young adult. I did not understand the purpose of salvation until I could receive it. There is a greater life than just having fun drinking and whoring. Sin is fun, but in the end if you don't give your life to Christ and serve him, there is a hell to go to.

  • Michael Hasbun

    Ah, the threat of hell... Gotta love Pascal's wager...

  • Robert Glen Murrell Jr

    Not my words, but Jesus Christ himself speaking:Revelation 21:8
    But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Michael, my friend it is not a wager, I wouldn't want to lose if I were you.

  • Michael Hasbun

    That you didn't understand the Pascals wager reference tells me you aren't educated enough on this topic to have an actual discussion with...

  • Robert Glen Murrell Jr

    My friend it does not take a college degree of which I have to understand Pascal's wager. “Pascal's Wager” is the name given to an argument due to Blaise Pascal for believing, or for at least taking steps to believe, in God.

  • Michael Hasbun

    You're trying way too hard to use language you're clearly not comfortable using. Just speak naturally to make your argument. (This isn't me being rude, I guide and coach professional instructors for a living)

  • Robert Glen Murrell Jr

    Michael,
    We've debated long enough. God could use a man like you in in the service of His kingdom. He has already gifted you with so many gifts and talents.
    Have you been born-again? Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that he was raised from the dead? Do you believe that came to redeem from your pitiful lifestyle and bring you into obedience to His will? He wants you to live for Him and be led by his His precious Holy Spirit. He can do more through you than you can by yourself if you accept Him on His terms and not your own. I would not let this day pass without repenting and believing the Gopsel this day. Friend me on facebook.

  • Tospeakthetruth

    "Notably absent from the report was any direct mention of the infamous South Korean “juicy bars,” the seedy entertainment establishments that commonly cluster near the gates of U.S. military bases across South Korea. Human rights groups, as well as the U.S. State Department, have cited the juicy bars as conduits for prostitution and human trafficking, but American commanders continue to allow U.S. servicemembers to patronize the bars as long as the establishments have not been caught directly engaging in illegal activities".
    Wow!! So the eighth Army Command approves and helps to facilitate/promote prostitution by turning a blind eye to this and human trafficing by NOT putting these establishements off limits and providing courtesy patrols to ensure U.S. military stays away from them??
    I find all of this to be distrubing and frankly, appalling, and as noted, a failure of leadership of the highest order.

  • parkerds61

    If you understood the entire issue you would see why Juicey bars are even allowed there.
    I remember when the base commander at Osan put off limits on every bar off base. Next day the protest and marchers hit. Could not get anything into or out of the base and Molotovs were tossed. The Commander had to take back his order and only promise to put off limits those caught doing illegal activity. You can say all you want that you would not have given in, but being isolated is a stressful situation.
    You see, not only are the bars unionized so are the other retailers. Also the city council got involved (and possibly the Korean governement as a whole since the order effected the earning capability of Koreans). can't fight city hall.

  • B_stein

    This article conflates several issues. Going out with your buds, and getting a bit drunk, but still maintaining your cool, and not doing anything stupid, IMO is a time honoured military tradition. Prostitution should also be legalized IMO.
    If the above two things were punished in the military, half the troops would be in prison overnight, as well as half of commissioned officers. I'm being kind here, it would really be 90%.
    Sexual assault, rapes, and any type of violence against the locals, is an entirely different matter, and should be punished in the harshest of terms. Period.

  • scoobydoo

    What an EXCELLENT reason to leave the ROK to their own devices .....

  • JoeC58

    If they find any of those places are directly participating in drugs, prostitution, under age drinking or any other offenses declared illegal then they place them off-limits.
    Legality gives you clear and objective standards. Placing a place off-limits because ?someone? objects to it morally is opening a whole other door into subjectivity that can lead to discrimination and abuse.
    Who gets to be the moral authority? The new, Born-Again commander would not only feel obligated to place those places off-base off-limits, but insist on closing every drinking establishment on-base also.
    Get off the high horse, Stars and Stripes.

  • Tospeakthetruth

    "The lack of leadership presence in the barracks was a source of widespread concern and criticism among soldiers. Security problems were also noted".
    Translated that means put CQ's back in the barracks to babysit and keep the sexual assaults from happening.

  • PadreTuck

    The leaders were in the Ville also...wake up!!
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