[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 70 (Friday, May 23, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5087-S5088]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RELATIONS BETWEEN THE SEXES IN THE MILITARY

  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, the case of Air Force 1st Lt. Kelly Flinn 
has highlighted the need for an independent review of gender relations 
in the services.

[[Page S5088]]

 First, I think the publicity about this case has served as an 
understandable impetus for all of us to speak our minds on this issue. 
That is, I think, useful, in that relations among the sexes in the 
military obviously need a thorough, independent review in light of the 
scandals that have emerged in recent months.
  It is imperative though, that as we review the rules regarding gender 
relations in the military, we keep our eye on the ball. The ball is 
that the goal should always be the most effective, combat-ready, 
disciplined, tough fighting force that the Nation can field. 
Effectiveness, discipline, unit cohesion and morale cannot ever take a 
second place to any other value, since the premier responsibility of 
the military is the national security of our Nation. If gender 
relations must take a back seat to that goal, that is as it should be.
  In the case of Lieutenant Flinn, the military justice system has 
tried to do its work, in spite of all the comment and publicity 
attendant to this case. There is a question about whether the Secretary 
of the Air Force should have granted Lieutenant Flinn a general 
discharge in lieu of a court-martial. We all, I am sure, have opinions 
about that. I personally feel that the charges of lying and disobeying 
the order of a superior officer, never mind the charge of adultery, 
which, of course, no one condones, merit a disciplinary decision, and 
that the Secretary should not have granted her a general discharge in 
light of those charges. That is my opinion. Other Senators may have 
other views. However, I believe that the larger issue and perhaps the 
root of the problem in this much publicized case may lie in the 
military rules of fraternization. When it is permissible for members of 
the opposite sex to socialize, live together, or otherwise fraternize, 
varies considerably among the different services. The standards are 
seriously inconsistent. I have indicated that I intend to offer an 
amendment to the upcoming fiscal year 1998 Defense authorization 
measure which would, if enacted, establish an independent outside 
review commission to review the question of the appropriateness of 
gender integrated recruit training in the services. I think such a 
commission could review, as well, the rules of fraternization with the 
goal of recommending a single consistent fraternization standard for 
conduct among enlisted people, between enlisted people and officers, 
and among officers, which spans all the services. What is appropriate 
for a soldier in the Army should also be appropriate for a sailor or an 
airman or a marine.
  Mr. President, clearly we are in the middle of a national debate on 
gender relations and on general conduct in the services, and the work 
of an independent commission to review the many issues which have 
arisen seems urgent, needed and very useful. In the meantime, I believe 
that we politicians should refrain from urging particular decisions in 
specific cases, and let the system work in the best way that it can 
until an opportunity has been had to systematically review the rules 
regarding gender relations and conduct in all of the services.

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