The issue was raised, however, on Tuesday during an all-day, semi-annual
training session in which 8th US Army soldiers are trained on personal conduct
on and off duty.
During a briefing for 8th Army's Headquarters and Headquarters Company,
hundreds of soldiers were reminded of the recent change. "That makes going to a
house of ill repute illegal," the battalion commander, Lt. Col. David L. Ward,
told the unit.
At a senior leadership briefing the same day, officers were reminded to make
sure their soldiers know how much trouble they can get into just for standing
inside a bar that supports prostitution. If there's a video camera in the
front, bars on the windows and a pretty girl, "you're probably in the wrong
place," the officers were told.
Sgt. 1st Class Thurman Hogen, who works in the engineer command on Yongsan,
said he believed the change was good because it emphasized family values. He
said Tuesday's forum was the main way that most soldiers would learn about the
change.
"We also get blasted with e-mails," he said.
Still, Spc. Christian Borges and Pfc. Glen Perryman, both from the headquarters
unit, said they knew little about the change other than talk among friends. But
they too felt as if the change was more about clarification and less about a
new policy.
Sgt. 1st Class Glen Harrison, one of 8th Army's equal opportunity advisers,
agreed. "It cuts out any gray areas," he said, adding that soliciting a
prostitute carried penalties before the military justice system change.
When Harrison addressed the soldiers in the afternoon, he asked how many had
heard of the change. Only a few raised their hands. Then he asked how many had
heard television spots denouncing prostitution and human trafficking. More
hands raised. Had anyone heard about the health, social and career dangers from
solicitation? Even more hands went up.
"The awareness is out there," he said.
Stars and Stripes
