Interesting.......

[patgund]

Note, this applies even when the serviceperson is somewhere where the practice is *legal*, like Denmark, Germany, Nevada, etc.......

Patronizing a prostitute is now a specific crime for servicemembers (Stars and Stripes)

"For the first time, the Department of Defense has specifically made it a crime for a servicemember to patronize a prostitute. The punishment: up to a year in prison, forfeiture of pay and dishonorable discharge.

The formal order came in a presidential executive order signed without fanfare Oct. 14, directing changes in the Manual for Courts-Martial. It is part of an assault the military has been waging against human trafficking.

A Defense Department spokeswoman, Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke, said in an e-mailed response to questions that “prostitution” and “pandering” will now be among the offenses covered by Article 134 of the courts-martial manual."

I can see this policy making sense in an area in which the practice is illegal. However, in areas in which the practice is legal, it seems like it could be, at best, a detriment to morale. At worse, I can see it leading to other, more serious problems.

Comments

[electorprince.livejournal.com]

UCMJ is concurrent with US legal doctrine. If it's illegal in the US and you're a servicemember in a foreign country, it's still illegal for you. That soldiers have been graying it over for decades in Korea and Germany is irrelevant, it's still not supposed to be done. I guess someone is finally getting tired of treating STDs picked up in Korean, Okinawan, and Dutch bordellos of less-than-proper levels of government-regulated cleanliness and the screws are tightening.

[patgund.livejournal.com]

Problem is it's not illegal in the US. Nevada and the legal brothels there come to mind

[electorprince.livejournal.com]

Also irrelevant, as it's a state law and not a federal one. Just because a person is a resident of Nevada doesn't mean they can legally set up shop in Florida, or Idaho, et al. In the case of the Service, state law is even more irrelevant, as you're government property for the duration of your term in service, which means you fall under federal legate, not state, and military legate on top of that. It sucks, but you do sign away most of those "rights" when you scribble on the dotted line.