The "A Few Good Women" scandal primarily refers to the systemic sexual misconduct and leadership failures within the Pennsylvania National Guard (exposed in 2019) and the "Marines United" illicit photo-sharing scandal (2017). These events catalyzed significant reforms in the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and transformed how the Department of Defense handles gender-based harassment.
Understanding the Origins of the "A Few Good Women" Controversy
The phrase "A Few Good Women" has historically been used to celebrate the inclusion of women in high-level government and military roles, most notably through the Pennsylvania State University’s oral history project. However, in recent years, the term has become inextricably linked to a series of scandals involving the mistreatment, harassment, and systemic failure to protect female service members. These scandals are not isolated incidents but represent a broader "scandal of culture" that has plagued various branches of the armed forces and state-level National Guard units.
The primary "A Few Good Women" scandal involving the Pennsylvania National Guard (PNG) broke in late 2018 and culminated in a devastating 2019 report. This investigation revealed a pervasive culture where sexual assault and harassment were not only frequent but were often covered up or ignored by high-ranking officials. This case served as a microcosm for similar issues across the United States military, leading to a national conversation about the safety of women in uniform and the efficacy of the military justice system.
To understand the depth of these scandals, one must analyze the two most significant pillars: the digital misconduct seen in the Marines United incident and the institutional betrayal documented within the Pennsylvania National Guard. These events represent different facets of the same core problem: a failure of leadership to uphold the dignity and rights of female personnel.
The 2017 Marines United Scandal: A Digital Turning Point
The Marines United scandal remains one of the most high-profile instances of gender-based misconduct in modern military history. In March 2017, it was revealed that a private Facebook group titled "Marines United," which boasted nearly 30,000 members (including active-duty Marines, veterans, and Navy corpsmen), was being used to share non-consensual, explicit photographs of female service members.
The Scope of the Misconduct
The behavior within the group was not limited to the sharing of images. Members often included the names, ranks, and duty stations of the victims, encouraging a culture of online stalking and harassment. This created a hostile environment that extended from the digital realm into the physical workplace. The scandal highlighted a massive gap in military law: at the time, the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) did not have a specific article that explicitly criminalized the non-consensual distribution of private, explicit images.
The Investigative Response
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) launched a massive investigation, but the decentralized nature of social media made prosecution difficult. While several dozen Marines faced administrative action or non-judicial punishment, the scandal exposed the limitations of traditional military discipline in the age of social media. It forced the Department of Defense (DoD) to acknowledge that digital harassment was a direct threat to unit cohesion and national security.
Legacy of Reform
The immediate fallout led to the creation of UCMJ Article 117a, which specifically criminalizes the "wrongful broadcast or distribution of intimate images." This was a landmark legislative victory for advocates of military reform, providing a clear legal framework to prosecute similar "scandals" in the future. As of 2026, this article remains a cornerstone of the military's efforts to police online behavior among service members.
The Pennsylvania National Guard Systemic Failure (2019-2021)
While the Marines United scandal focused on digital harassment, the Pennsylvania National Guard scandal revealed deep-seated institutional corruption. In 2019, a 122-page report commissioned by Governor Tom Wolf and conducted by the Pennsylvania Adjutant General’s office detailed years of ignored sexual assault allegations within the state’s National Guard units.
Findings of the 2019 Report
The investigation found that leadership within the PNG—specifically within the 171st Air Refueling Wing and the 111th Attack Wing—had failed to properly investigate sexual assault claims. In many cases, victims were discouraged from filing formal complaints, or their reports were "lost" or filed away without action. Even more troubling was the evidence that perpetrators were often protected or allowed to retire with full benefits rather than facing court-martial.
Key failures identified in the report included:
- Command Influence: High-ranking officers used their influence to shield subordinates from accountability.
- Inadequate Training: Sexual Assault Response Coordinators (SARCs) were often under-resourced and lacked the independence necessary to advocate for victims.
- Retaliation Culture: Women who reported misconduct were frequently subjected to professional retaliation, including being passed over for promotions or being transferred to unfavorable assignments.
Institutional Consequences
The scandal led to the resignation or removal of several high-ranking officers and a complete overhaul of the PNG’s Bureau of Military Justice. The state legislature was forced to implement new oversight mechanisms to ensure that the National Guard remained accountable to civilian authorities rather than functioning as a closed-off entity.
Legislative Consequences and the Evolution of Military Law
The "A Few Good Women" scandals (both the Marines United and PNG incidents) provided the political capital necessary for the passage of the Military Justice Improvement and Efficiency Act. For years, advocates like Senator Kirsten Gillibrand had argued that the decision to prosecute serious crimes, including sexual assault, should be taken out of the hands of the military chain of command.
The Shift to Independent Prosecutors
By 2026, the military justice system has undergone its most significant transformation since its inception. The creation of the Office of Special Trial Counsel (OSTC) was a direct result of these scandals. This independent office now has the authority to decide whether to prosecute cases of sexual assault, kidnapping, and domestic violence, bypassing the traditional "commander's discretion" that had historically led to the cover-ups seen in Pennsylvania.
Enhanced Victim Protections
Beyond prosecution, the scandals led to the codification of the Special Victims’ Counsel (SVC) program across all branches. These are dedicated military attorneys who represent the interests of victims throughout the investigative and legal process. Their role is to ensure that the "systemic siloing" of victims—a hallmark of the PNG scandal—does not recur.
The "A Few Good Women" Project: Disambiguating the Narrative
It is important to distinguish the "scandals" from the A Few Good Women Oral History Project at Pennsylvania State University. Founded by former Secretary of Commerce Barbara Hackman Franklin, this project is a prestigious archive that documents the stories of women who held high-level positions in the Nixon and Ford administrations.
The project was designed to inspire future generations of female leaders by highlighting the barriers they broke in the 1970s. However, because the project is based in Pennsylvania and carries the same name, it has occasionally been caught in the crosshairs of search intent related to the National Guard scandals. In 2026, the project remains an essential historical resource, though its curators have had to work diligently to ensure their mission of "empowerment" is not overshadowed by the "scandal" headlines associated with the military.
| Feature/Scandal | Marines United (2017) | PA National Guard (2019) | Penn State Project (Legacy) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Issue | Non-consensual image sharing | Systemic cover-up of sexual assault | Oral history of female pioneers |
| Branch Affected | US Marine Corps | PA National Guard (Air/Army) | US Executive Branch (1970s) |
| Legal Outcome | Creation of UCMJ Article 117a | Overhaul of PNG Bureau of Justice | N/A (Historical Archive) |
| Key Stakeholders | NCIS, Congress | Governor Tom Wolf, PNG Leadership | Barbara Hackman Franklin, PSU |
| Type of Reform | Legislative (Criminal Law) | Administrative (Oversight) | Cultural (History) |
Current Status in 2026: Successes and Ongoing Challenges
As we look at the landscape in 2026, the "A Few Good Women" scandal has transitioned from a news cycle to a case study in military reform. While the legal structures have improved, cultural challenges remain.
Successes in Oversight
The implementation of independent prosecutors has led to a measurable increase in the reporting of sexual misconduct. Victims now have greater confidence that their reports will be handled by legal professionals rather than their direct supervisors. Annual reports from the Department of Defense (DoD) for the 2025-2026 period show a stabilization in reporting rates, suggesting that the "culture of silence" is slowly being dismantled.
The "Hidden" Scandals
Despite these advances, new challenges have emerged. Harassment has shifted toward encrypted messaging apps and private servers that are harder for military investigators to monitor than the public Facebook groups of 2017. Furthermore, the National Guard continues to struggle with "jurisdictional gaps," where state-level regulations sometimes clash with federal UCMJ standards, leading to inconsistencies in how misconduct is handled across different states.
The Role of Whistleblowers
The 2019 Pennsylvania scandal only came to light because of brave whistleblowers who risked their careers to speak to the press and internal investigators. In 2026, whistleblower protections for military members have been strengthened under the Military Whistleblower Protection Act, ensuring that those who expose systemic failures are shielded from the "retaliation culture" that defined the earlier scandals.
FAQs About the A Few Good Women Scandal
What was the specific "A Few Good Women" report in Pennsylvania?
The report was a 2019 investigation into the Pennsylvania National Guard (PNG). It was triggered by multiple allegations of sexual assault that were mishandled by the chain of command. The 122-page document detailed a "toxic culture" where victims were ignored and perpetrators were protected by high-ranking officers, leading to several high-profile resignations.
How did the Marines United scandal change military law?
The Marines United scandal directly led to the creation of UCMJ Article 117a. Before this, prosecutors had to rely on broader charges like "conduct unbecoming an officer" to address non-consensual image sharing. Article 117a provided a specific, enforceable criminal statute for digital sexual harassment, which has since been used in hundreds of cases across all military branches.
Is the "A Few Good Women" scandal related to the 1992 movie?
No. The title "A Few Good Women" is a play on the famous movie A Few Good Men. While the movie dealt with military justice and the "code of silence," the scandals discussed here are real-world events involving sexual misconduct and systemic leadership failures that occurred decades after the film's release.
What are the current reporting requirements in 2026?
As of 2026, all sexual assault allegations in the military must be reported to the Office of Special Trial Counsel (OSTC). Commanders no longer have the authority to dismiss these cases or decide whether they go to trial. This "independent prosecutor" model is the most significant change to the UCMJ in over 70 years.
Who was the key whistleblower in the Pennsylvania National Guard scandal?
The scandal was exposed by a group of women within the 171st Air Refueling Wing who documented the failures of their leadership to investigate assaults. Their testimonies, combined with investigative reporting by local news outlets, forced the state government to launch the formal investigation that eventually led to the 2019 report.
Practical Recommendations for Continued Reform
For those tracking the impact of these scandals or working within the military and legal sectors, the following actions are recommended for 2026 and beyond:
- Prioritize Independent Oversight: Ensure that state-level National Guard units are subject to the same independent prosecutorial standards as the federal military branches to prevent jurisdictional "blind spots."
- Support Whistleblower Networks: Encourage the use of official, protected channels for reporting misconduct and provide legal aid to those who face retaliation.
- Engage with Historical Context: Utilize resources like the Penn State "A Few Good Women" project to understand the positive history of women in service, using it as a benchmark for the culture that the military should strive to achieve.
- Monitor Digital Evolution: Stay ahead of technological shifts by updating the UCMJ to address harassment occurring on decentralized or encrypted platforms.
By addressing both the legal failures and the cultural underpinnings of these scandals, the military can move closer to the goal of ensuring that "a few good women" can serve their country with the respect and safety they deserve.
