It’s been my experience that women and girls receive a lot of messaging around domestic violence. We’re coached to recognize warning signs and to get out. In hushed conferences, we advise each other to set aside a little money, just in case. We tentatively poke at the edges of relationships to try and discern whether our friends are safe. I don’t offer this to suggest that men cannot or do not suffer from domestic violence, but to highlight that we tend to focus on teaching women what to do if they find themselves embroiled in a violent dynamic. But, in the cases of Air Force Technical Sergeants Jenkins and Edwards, messaging towards men about blending families, managing anger, and having difficult conversations would have been far more helpful to safeguarding the women in their lives.

For more information on intimate partner violence, I urge you to explore Alliance For Hope and their Family Justice Center Alliance. If you need help finding shelter in your area, please visit DomesticShelters.org. Last, but not least, many law schools and courthouses offer free legal assistance for people seeking protective restraining orders.

I relied exclusively on the AFCCA opinions (Jenkins/Edwards) for this episode, and checked the CAAF Daily Journal for updates about further appeals.

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Disclaimer: Conduct Unbecoming is a podcast where I get to talk about interesting crimes and cases that involve US military service members. I research, write, and produce the podcast myself… the opinions expressed are my own and, perhaps it’s obvious, Conduct Unbecoming is not approved, endorsed, or authorized by the Department of Defense. I am not a military JAG and have never been a military JAG. While I'm a practicing attorney, I don't do direct criminal defense. This podcast is a passion project, not legal advice or expert opinion.