In a lawsuit filed in a Virginia federal court, four active-duty and former service women have called for the DoD to stop using convening authorities to judge if such cases go to court-martial.
The 130-page book includes drinking toasts and songs with obscene titles, such as “Pubic Hair,” “The Kotex Song,” “Will You Suck Me Tomorrow” and "Bye Bye Cherry."
"This is something that is used by Air Force officers today. These are the commanders who sing songs about raping women as fun," said retired Air Force Col. Don Christensen, president of Protect Our Defenders, an advocacy group for military sex assault victims.
When former Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Smith found the songbook at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina in 2012, she complained to her chain of command about the material – without result – before filing a formal complaint with the Inspector General and Air Force leadership.
"I filed a formal complaint," Smith said. "Six officers were punished in my case. All the officers received nothing more than a piece of paper reprimanding them for their behavior. All will still lead. All will oversee airmen and sexual assault claims."
Smith, who says she was sexually assaulted by an officer overseas, has joined an Army first lieutenant stationed in Kuwait, a former airman and a veteran soldier as plaintiffs in the suit.
They assert that commanders cannot be fair and impartial in such cases because they often know the alleged perpetrators or victims. Instead, the plaintiffs say, legal officers outside the unit chain of command should adjudicate the cases.
“The time has come for fundamental military reform," said Christensen, the advocacy group president.
