Is it completely my fault?

I am being charged with three counts of assault in the army. One on an NCO female and 2 more on male privates. In each case, I was never STARTING the fight because the other individuals put their hands on me first. That does not excuse anything because I should've walked away, but now I am being court martialed. It is known by my chain of command that the first punch was not from me, but I ended up winning each fight which is why I am in so much trouble. It was before PT and there was no alcohol involved just to make that known. What should I do? The fight with the NCO, I realize, the bigger of the problems but WHY should 2 male soldiers be able to put there hands on me and just because I won the fight I AM the one getting all the heat for it. Someone shed some light on this for me please :)
Additional Details
I understand the simple fact that YEAH.... i touched an NCO. But am I so not important as a person that it was ok for her to put her hands on me in the beginning? She even admitted it, so it isn't even my word against hers. haha and WHAT KIND OF GUY would wanna admit getting there *** beat by a girl. You would have to know me to see how funny it is.. I am a total girlie girl...and not big by any means... but if a dude hits me, why do I have to either sit there and take it, or get in trouble for defending myself?????

Kekionga

I don't get the whole "put their hands on me" thing. Somebody lays their hand on your shoulder isn't license to kick the poop out of them. Somebody takes you by the arm isn't reason for going off like a wild cat trapped in a lair.

Sounds to me like we don't know the story and you might have grossly overreacted to a simple situation.

There is no mention in the American Bill or Rights that you can't be touched.

The court martial is the right place to sort it out.

g-day!

bettercockster7 c

sounds like you are leaving a lot out of this story. Were the two male privates, trying to breask up the fight between you and the NCO? If they were and you insisted on fighting them, then yes, you are completely in the wrong.
When you join the army you better learn how to be Ok withbeing submissively obedient. If you can't do that , then you really should not be in the army.

al l

Starting the fight may not have been your fault but finishing it was. The military is very serious when it comes to use of force. I know they drill it into our heads all the time "use only that force which is necessary to render the subject incable of conducting the act." Apparently you went beyond that so it turnned into assault. You also should have used your chain of command to report this situation. The best thing you can do now is talk to your lawyer and be honest. Tell them you did it in self defense and you realize now that you probably should have stopped earlier but what is done is done and you can't change that.

jonathanrovillard

So you didn't tell us why you fought these people? I mean did you go around smart mouthing people? I can't imagine random people just coming up to trying to start something...There is more to this...

d_holy_devil

You touched an NCO .. simple ..rest of the charges are just to make your life miserable...

Army takes hierarchy pretty seriously

P.S. : You are one tough girl :)

Angel R

You answered your own question. They were in the wrong, yes, but you continued it. If you'd just walked away and went through the proper procedures, you wouldn't be having this problem now. Remember, two wrongs don't make a right, and in this case it was definately not in your favor.

JAMES W

you have a good point about the privates or specialists as they are called now .. but hitting the NCO that was a no go..

good luck your gown to need it..

bonstermonster20

You assaulted someone. That is a crime. At your courtmartial speak up for yourself and tell them why you believe you were right for doing it. You are allowed to appeal.

ja man

So nothing is happening to any of the people involved but you? As I recall anyone involved should be punished with the NCO's least punishment being a demotion in rank you also never indicated your rank. It could be that this would make a first offense for the other three and a third for you ask your JAG rep you should get one in this matter

Annie

I would be interested to hear why they felt the need to put thier hands on you in the first place. Especially as this occured during or just prior to a (am assuming) unit or formalized PT session, not out in a bar or at a party. I am not saying there aren't some folks who are ready to get into it over stupid things, but there certainly is something here that you aren't saying. That being said...I have no idea why you would be the only one charged in this, but if you did "win" in a fight against three people I am going to guess someone got hurt in a way more than their pride...that may do it. Also, the whole NCO thing was a huge mistake. The fact you went for the NCO first may mean the other two men were simply trying to intervene..at least it may be explained that way. If they were of higher rank than you, and told you to stop..or the NCO told you to stop and you did not, you not only strick an NCO, but struck someone of superior rank and failed to head direct orders more than once. You are in some serious trouble...of that there is no doubt. Work with your lawyer, keep your temper in control and do not get into this sort of arguement when at the court martial...it will do nothing to help.

I did not know about the bi-polar issue. I am hoping that you have proof of a diagnosis, have been taking your meds and working with a therapist/psychiatrist. That may help you in the long run, but you will still be out of the Army, even just for the psychiatric condition..but you may be able to avoid serious jail time.

krissiesweatman

get a command rep for your side and a jag lawyer wouldnt hurt either

Ricky

Becasue you are being court martialed you can employ a civvy lawyer. If you can't afford that, go to the welfare office and where you have the right to legal aid. They'll play up the fact the a man hit a woman first, which in civvy st is worse that the fact he's your superior. At the end of the day, those guys could seriously have hurt you.

MadMaxx

Have you spoken to a JAG lawyer yet? Do you have any witnesses to back up your story?

To me it sounds like self -defense but to the Army... they see one chick beating up three different people... you look like the bully to them.

Armywife123

*sigh* girl, the army is all about rank you should know that by now and no you are not a person to the army - you are just another number to them -- its sad but thats how it works in the army.

i personally think you should go off post one day and find that NCO and kick her butt

ggates1982

the way the ucmj works is that everyone should have been brought up on charges especially the nco if he touched u first but since you fought back just talk to the officer in charge of the case and make sure you tell him the truth and take whatever punishment they give you.

John C

An NCO should never have touched except to correct a mistake in your uniform. And the males should not have touched you at all.

baby girl

no it's not completely ur fault!

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