Considerations of Identity
Class & Culture
Military
Members of our Armed Forces not only risk their lives to protect our freedoms, they also face some additional barriers when it comes to sexual violence.
Some information regarding MST:
- Military Sexual Trauma (MST) = term used by the Veterans Administration for sexual assault or sexual harassment which occurs during military service
- Rates of MST among vets who are part of the VA Healthcare system are higher than those found in “general military populations.”
- In a 2000 national survey of women in the VA Healthcare system, with 3,632 women responding, 835 or 23% reported at least one sexual assault while on active duty.
The Invisible War - documentary on sexual assault in the military is making its way into theaters: view the trailer (on YouTube)
Resources:
Sites:
- SAPRO - Department of Defense’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office
- SafeHelpline
– a project of the DoD and RAINN.org [confidentiality may not be guaranteed if you use this service; RAINN staff can transfer to local community service providers if requested]
- Military-Civilian Advocate Resource Network – now an “open to the public” online resource wiki; a project of the Battered Women’s Justice Project; information about the Department of Defense, Reserves, National Guard, and Department of Veterans Affairs systems and their response to IPV, pertinent articles and research, and links to related websites and resources.
- A listserv has been launched to allow both military and civilian victim advocates to network and share information and to request consultation with subject matter experts. Glenna Tinney, BWJP’s Military Advocacy Program Coordinator, is the moderator for the listserv and is available to provide technical assistance. She can be reached via email at gtinney@bwjp.org or by phone at (703) 822-8118 (direct number) or 1-800-903-0111, x 1, then x 258 (voicemail). Click here to join the listserv.
- Military Sexual Trauma
– PowerPoint presentation
- Army Community Service, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program
- brochure
- Strengthening Military-Civilian Community Partnerships To Respond To Sexual Assault a currculum hosted by the NSVRC created by PCAR in partnership with DOJ and Military agencies; includes PDF Facilitator's Guide and PowerPoint modules.
- VAW.net Special Collection: The Intersection of Domestic Violence and the Military: Working across disciplines
In the News:
Military sexual assault victim turns trauma into hope
Air Force veteran now leads a support group for others who faced torment | Mar 17, 2013 via Florida Today
The Rape of Petty Officer Blumer
Inside the military's culture of sex abuse, denial and cover-up | RollingStone.com – Feb. 14, 2013
Air Force calls number of sex assaults "appalling" | CBS News
January 23, 2013 | WASHINGTON
The Air Force recorded an "appalling" number of reports of sexual assault last year even as it worked to curb misconduct in the wake of a sex scandal at its training headquarters in Texas, the service's top officer told lawmakers on Wednesday. Gen. Mark Welsh, the Air Force chief of staff, said there were 796 reports of cases ranging from inappropriate touching to rape. The 2012 figure is a nearly 30 percent increase from 2011 when 614 cases were reported. The number could be much greater, Welsh said, because many cases are never reported at all. "Calling these numbers unacceptable does not do the victims justice," Welsh said. "The truth is, these numbers are appalling!"
Read the full story on CBSNews.com...
Victims of sexual assault in military say brass often ignore pleas for justice – report on NBC’s Rock Center; video and text transcript…
YouTube series 'Lauren' focuses on military sexual assault
Originally published: August 12, 2012 9:12 PM
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The enormous obstacles and emotional torment that a female solider confronts in reporting a sexual assault in the military are the focus of the three-part Web series "Lauren" debuting Monday on YouTube's new channel WIGS, which focuses on drama for women.
Read the article at New York Newsday online
#SAAM – April is Over, But Navy’s Efforts to Eliminate Sexual Assault Are Not
Navy Live | May 3, 2012
If you’ve looked at any Navy website in April, you’ve probably heard the number listed above: 611. But, it’s not April anymore, so why are you still seeing the subject of sexual assault on Navy websites? That’s because sexual assault is still a problem, one that we knew one month couldn’t fix… and that’s why we hope you will keep the conversation going, just like we are.
Commands across the fleet took time out this past month to talk about sexual assault; from guided discussions to sporting competitions to the clothesline project to grille crawls to a town hall forum, the fleet came together to raise awareness. However, if we are to eliminate this heinous crime, our efforts cannot stop now that Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) is over.
Read the full article on Navy Live…
DOD Implements New Changes to Sexual Assault Response
WASHINGTON, April 2, 2012 – The Defense Department has refined new methods to aid sexual assault victims whether reporting a crime or seeking assistance as they transition from service, the director of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office said here March 30.
“We have several new options for victims of sexual assault,” said Air Force Maj. Gen. Mary Kay Hertog. “First, if you’ve been a victim of sexual assault in the military you now have the option of requesting an expedited transfer. We signed that into effect in December.”
Read the full press release on the DOD website…
Pentagon works on new plan to curb sex assaults
Assoc. Press | Published: Jan 18, 2012
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Pentagon is preparing a series of new initiatives to try to curb sexual assaults in the military, the defense chief said Wednesday, calling the problem a stain on the honor of the armed forces.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said there were 3,191 sexual assaults reported in the military last year, which would be a slight increase from the 3,158 reported in 2010. But he said that because so few victims report the crime, the real number is closer to 19,000 assaults.
"It is an affront to the basic American values we defend and it is a stain on the good honor of the great majority of our troops and our families," Panetta told a Pentagon press conference.
For more, read the full story online at the AP...
