Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau for April 12, 2010

Whoa!

I don’t think the identity of the perp was ever specified. I thought it was an NCO.

Maybe Roz dosen’t know

Fraternization (personal relationships between officers and enlisted) is against the UCMJ. Perhaps things have changed in the last 20 years, but while fraternization certainly went on in my unit, this kind of casual chatter simply didn’t happen - ESPECIALLY on duty - because accusing someone of it was essentially accusing them of a potentially career-ending crime. Also, since the pressure to engage in those relationships usually comes from the officer level (aka “command rape”), someone here is being very clueless, at best.

It remains to be seen whether the cluelessness is confined to the character or the author.

Cogently argued, BlueJay!

Or perhaps Mel is one of those hard-working troops who prefers to let her work and actions speak for her, shuns the limelight, and is easily flustered when in the presence of her C.O. and other superiors.

Girls will be girls.

Mel was sexually assaulted by one Co, now she’s being told this male officer wants to see her in his office. I think Mel’s friend is completely miss-reading why Mel is getting flushed and hyperventilating. She’s panicking. Perhaps for no reason, since we don’t know this officer, but I think the fear is real enough to her.

Randgrithr, these are two junior soldiers and friends of equal rank having a private conversation. For one to tease the other that she thinks has a crush over a superior (note crush, not relationship) is perfectly plausible. Young soldiers tease eachother about inappropriate things when they think nobody else is listening.

And yes, I think Mel’s friend is clueless about a few things.

Brining this up again. I’m sure the portly soldier is flagged and will be outed if she attempts to re-enlist. Or maybe she has a conditional promotion? I saw one bigger soldier get SGT on the freedom flight. No way would she even pass leader school height and weight.

“fraternization” is not the same as sexual intimidation/rape via command hierarchy..

yeah, rickmac - here, not Starbucks, is where a gun for Mel might both come in handy and be extremely dangerous - both for Mel and her “superior” male officer.

Oh, methinks this doesn’t bode well…

Why is it never sorortization?

The colorist didn’t bother to read the part about her turning ‘beet red.’ -Just can’t get good help these days.

I’m sure Mel never told her co-workers about the assault after re-enlisting. This reads like a good natured kidding by an equal to me as well. I think we have seen the captain once before though/ Wasn’t there a mess hall scene where the younger enlisted staff were making comments and he was thinking “Don’t look, don’t look.”? I think so anyway.

IIRC, that might have been the First Shirt (1stSgt) trying to keep cool and not ogle.

I thought Mel was going to wind up dating the weird guy whose name I can’t remember. I’m sure someone knows what I’m talking about.

Deep breaths, Mel. Deep breaths…

Roz is the clueless one. Mel’s made it clear to her that she’s not interested in flirting like Roz is and insists on professional behavior. Roz doesn’t understand that.

What Chrisnp said.

Roz is totally misreading Mel’s physical responses. It’s actually a panic reaction to a situation mirroring the root of her old PTSD.

Kerovan, As I recall it, Roz and Mel were saying that at least command wasn’t oggling, then in the next frame I think it was a colonel, thinking over and over “must maintain good order and discipline, must maintain good order and discipline, must maintain….”

Anyway, I don’t recall this CPT Seabrook character, but I hope GT hasn’t decided to put Mel’s abuser in the same unit with her again. It just seems too soon for her character and the story thread.

Jack75, as someone who was also in the military I also find the idea of sexual abuse committed by an officer against one of his own soldiers absolutely appalling. However, I don’t think GT is picking on the military, or implying it’s rampant in the military, or that it does not occur elsewhere. By having Mel show up at BD’s vet center, GT reminded us that PTSD doesn’t just happen to male combat veterans, and it may not even be related to combat. He’s also been reminding us of the important role of women in the military, and showing us just how strong those women can be. I’m grateful to GT for creating this character.

I read ya, notinksanymore.

You know, Trudeau could use an oak tree for Obama’s avatar, just to shut the “snotty cons” up.