Dear Hasbeen,

Peter Reith in his TV interview indicated that there was a serious problem in the Defence Force going back for quite a few years that needs to be brought out into the open. Many people have complained but the cases have never been thoroughly investigated. What Reith was saying - it's time they were. They do have to admit that a problem exists. Brushing things aside isn't doing anyone much good. And it's too convenient to simply blame it on female officers - many of whom would probably question not only the calibre of their male supervisors - but of the way they behave and what they think they're entitled to from females. If you think that the females should "toughten up." Perhaps they wouldn't have to, if the males could treat them with the respect that they're entitled to as fellow officers.

Hasbeen,
I have had discussions with police officers who also talk of the incompedence of female officers, but this debate is not about that.

This is about the trustworthyness and lack of integrity of a future officer of our ADF, who betrayed a female, and co-cadet's, trust by broadcasting a sexual encounter. A low act in any society.

This illustrates that he would sell out his mates for personal advantage and thus is unworthy to be a leader of others. Would you serve under such an officer?

The other dissappointing thing is that the female cadet was advised the blokes would only get a slap on the wrist. Then after the issue became public, the commandant suggested she apologise for the public attention. Some of the cadets shouting abuse at her so obviously they expected her to just accept her treatment and the public perception of the college was more important than the wefare of its students.

This was not some little practical joke, like short sheeting a bed, this womans moral reputation was on the line and she had every right to be angry. The college and the cadet's support should be for her

Dear Banjo,

Thank You for clarifying the facts for us. I wasn't aware of all the details - only that Peter Reith felt so strongly that the matter should not be swept under the rug. That things had gone too far this time.
Again - Thanks!

I don't think the ladies morality is in question. I think everyone knows what her morals are. I think that is the problem here, having her morals exposed for what they are.

Yes Lexi there is a problem in the defence force, it is this equal opportunity BS.

It is all well & good for the girls club to want another career path for ladies, in the defence force. It would have been fine for many years, when our defence forces did little that was dangerous. Now we use the force for some very dangerous stuff, & the girls don't hack it.

For centuries, in every army on earth, hazing has gone on. One thing that happened to every bloke who went to Duntroon was he had his balls boot polished. This was done very publicly, often in mass. No one ever got out of it. It even happened at school cadet camps.

I am not in favour of this type of hazing, but authority has never been able to stop it.

When I was doing my flying training near Wagga, all new trainees would have their gear removed from the shower block, & dumped in the trainee pilots club, 150 metres away. A quite cold initiation in mid winter.

I don't know what happens now, with the girls, with boot polish, or their gear, they probably demand on suites, but without initiation, they can't be part of the whole.

The defence force has to be tough. If you aren't, don't go there. It not a debating society. Their debating will happen with guns. It's a place for tough people, not sir Galahads, although I wonder how well he actually treated the ladies.

Hasbeen
That is such a sexist comment. What about the morals of the man involved? Why do you give him a free pass? He not only slept around (that is not illegal) he filmed the event and distributed it without the consent of the woman.

Sheesh..not a gentlemen among you is there!

Banjo
I have also spoken to police officers about female officers, most of them have difficulty in accepting a woman as a supervisor regardless of her competency. Do you blokes really think men are all competent in whatever profession they hold?

There is still a lot of spite in relation to women in traditional male roles.

Bad behaviour within defence should be a matter of concern to all. Ex officers and cadets have come out speaking of similar incidents and other ritualistic perversions and most of those now going public about this are men.

Appropriate name that, Hasbeen. In the future women wear pants and run companies too!.

Her morals? Like, having sex? Oh yeah, I forgot, in the 1800's sex was naughty...