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Considerations of Identity
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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: trailer (on YouTube)
MAY 2nd, 2012: THIS FILM IS SCREENING TONIGHT IN MADISON AT 7PM –> http://invisiblewarmovie.com/eflier/mini_indie
Resources:
MILITARY SEXUAL ASSAULT/Domestic Violence ISSUES
- 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 Sexual Trauma
(PowerPoint file)
- Army Community Service, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program
- brochure
- NSVRC Curriculum: Strengthening Military-Civilian Community Partnerships To Respond To Sexual Assault
- VAW.net Special Collection: The Intersection of Domestic Violence and the Military: Working across disciplines
In the News:
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...
