Military RAPE: One in three women, one in four men

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
10/24/2011
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Morally repugnant epidemic must be swiftly stopped.

According to at least one peer-reviewed study, one in three women is raped during their term of US military service. If true, this is an astounding statistic, and an ongoing national tragedy that must be stopped.

Servicewomen (and men) offer us their lives, we owe them the dignity and respect they deserve.

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WASHINGTON DC (Catholic Online) - Now, a civil lawsuit is being brought against former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, and former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, charging that under their leadership the military failed to adequately and effectively investigate and prosecute rapes and sexual assaults within the ranks.

The suit was filed last February, and initially named 16 plaintiffs, but has now grown to more than 30. As word of the suit spreads, a greater number of women are coming forward to report cases of sexual assault.

A growing number of advocates are claiming that sexual assault and rape are widespread in the military. At least 200,000 women currently serve with the US military on active duty. However, it is shortsighted to assume that only women are affected. According to other statistics, at least 27 percent of men serving in the military are estimated to have suffered what psychologists call "military sexual trauma" which is either sexual assault, or repeated harassment and threatened assault.

These figures raise several questions. First, why are sexual assault and rape so widespread in the military? Particularly, when the US military prides itself on discipline and honor. Second, should the role of women serving alongside men be re-evaluated? Finally, what should be done to protect all members of the service and to redress the egregious wrongs that these victims have suffered?
Answers to these questions are subject to individual opinion, however, one thing is certain. The male-dominated culture of the military both facilitates and actively encourages the concealment of such reprehensible behavior.

One woman involved in the suit, who spoke anonymously to reporters said, "My experience reporting military sexual assault was worse than the actual assault. The command has so much power over a victim of sexual assault. They are your judge, jury, executioner and mayor: they own the law. As I saw in my case, they are able to crush you for reporting an assault." This victim was a former Marine Corps officer and a veteran of the Iraq war and was compelled to leave the military because of the way in which she was treated following her report.

The military and a congressional task force both agree that sexual assault in the military is substantial. The Department of Defense claims they're working to curb the problem, but even the most recent evidence suggests that their efforts, whatever they may be, are having little impact.
Worse, people are systematically intimidated and discouraged from reporting. Prosecution rates of sexual assault in the military is a mere 8 percent, and most cases are never reported. For most victims, the assault is merely the beginning. Following the assault, they are forced to re-live their trauma as they are persecuted for coming forward.

High-ranking officers have remained untouchable and free from prosecution for a long time. Soldiers are kept from their homes for extended periods of time, and they are deprived of close human contact. The stress of service and frustration builds and men become tempted to take advantage of women who are intoxicated, or to abuse power relationships within the chain of command to exploit victims. And in some cases, the victims are simply assaulted.

But to be clear, regardless of the factors, sexual assault is entirely without excuse.

Also, discouragement of its reporting is also without excuse and is tantamount to the abuse itself.

Finally, the act of persecuting the victim is dishonorable, and morally repugnant.

It is true that the United States demands much of its service personnel. While military service is both an honor and a duty, and carries with it substantial risk to life and limb, the risk of sexual assault and abuse is one risk that no service member should fear. But with a third of all women and possibly a quarter of the men experiencing some type of sexual abuse, or trauma, it is clear that changes have to be made.

Immediately.

� 2011, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: US military, rape, sexual assault, military sexual trauma, women in the military, Donald Rumsfeld, Robert Gates, statistics and

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1 - 10 of 13 Comments

Richard
10 months ago
Hello,

When you think of a Predator or Military Sexual Trauma (MST) you think women being raped by men, but there were over 20,000 males raped in 2009 & 2010 who have been raped too. When you think of Male who has Military Sexual Trauma (MST) you think male on male rape. I am a Survivor I have Military Sexual Trauma (MST) PTST and no male has ever touched me

It was my Supervisor who was a Civilian Employee during the week days and she was a female, during the weekends she was the First Sergeant for the unit. She was in a position as a civilian that she used her higher rank and position to get what she wanted. Then the threats came in… but I reported it after it took the best of me. Once I reported it to the military they didn’t remove her or change her position. If the role was reversed I as a male would have been moved that day no questions asked. But she got to stay while they investigated it. If they ever did investigate it I still remember it like it was yesterday, step by step. I want to stop thinking and dreaming about it but it is hard when the person who violated you works at the Dallas VA Hospital where I go for medical care and have been since 2007.

I had her as a supervisor for another year and thoughts of suicide was in my head every time I came to work. She would harassment and embarrassed me in from of my peers. My doctor put me on 2mg bars of Xanax, 280 pills a month. Then I became an addicted to them. Today I still have to take something for my anxiety; because I see her every time I go to the Dallas VA Hospital for medical appointments.

When I came off active duty I didn’t leave my house for over two years which means no medication for my injuries and Military Sexual Trauma PTSD (MST) or my Combat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I was too scared to go to the Dallas VA to get treatment because I found out that she worked there. Yes, it had been over ten years and it still had a big impact on my life today.

Today I still cannot sleep, have anxiety, panic attacks, and broken relationship with my fiancée who I had dated over five years. I became a work alcoholic and buried myself in my work. I felt ashamed like I did something wrong. When I reported it not more than five minutes I received a phone call from both of our supervisor who started screaming at me as loud as she could over the phone.

Telling me I was a lair and why would I do this to her. This went on for over 30 minutes I broken down over the phone and told her that I was telling the truth but she didn’t believe me. Once I got off the phone I went and told the head person in charge of the hold battalion during the week days. She was also my First Sergeant on the weekends which means she was using her military rank as in uniform during the weekends and during the week days she was in civilian position. She was what they called dual status, reservist and civilian personnel and she was a predator.

I had never in my life taken pills. I was the Division Master Fitness Trainer. I was in excellent shape before I was transferred to this new unit because our other unit was deactivated. She was on me my first day there and I told her I was not interested. I kept my personal life away from my professional life. She would not take no for an answer and I didn’t know anyone in this unit or who I could trust or who would believe me. I mean come on a woman wants a man…most men would had jumped on it. That is what all the men kept telling me.

I had a perfect career and was on fast track up to this point. I was an E5 with 4 MSMs awards which this is unheard of in the military. When you hear of Military Sexual Trauma (MST) PTSD remember it’s not only females, or male on male rape. Women are part of this mess too and they will use their rank and position to get what they want. I will never forget the words she used…. I always get what I want.

According to other statistics, at least 27 percent of men serving in the military are estimated to have suffered what psychologists call "military sexual trauma" which is either sexual assault, or repeated harassment and threatened assault.

I have been asking for Military Sexual Trauma MST treatment for male soldiers but they keep telling me I don’t qualified because mine was a female, not a male on male rape. I do not believe I would get any support for several years from the Dallas VA Hospital but they keep telling me do this first or take these pills. I have been given so many pills to take that I almost killed myself several times. This letter is in no disrespect to my fellow sister-in-arms back then and today, but I felt that my story needed to be told because I know it is still going on today and there are still women predators out there.

Finally, the act of persecuting the victim is dishonorable, and morally repugnant.

It is true that the United States demands much of its service personnel. While military service is both an honor and a duty, and carries with it substantial risk to life and limb, the risk of sexual assault and abuse is one risk that no service member should fear. But with a third of all women and possibly a quarter of the men experiencing some type of sexual abuse, or trauma, it is clear that changes have to be made.

Immediately.

Thank you for letting me share my story.

Richard and my Service Dog Military Millie
Melinda
1 year ago
For those of you making the argument that women shouldn't be allowed to serve in the military is a moot point and is an unnecessary distraction to the real issue. By law women are allowed to serve and nothing is going to change that. The issue is that rape is rape no matter how you want to spin it and as Catholics you should not be defending the men simply because you disagree with women serving in the military. That's the same argument as saying that it was the victims fault for being in the wrong place which is victim shaming. Victim shaming only enables rapist to continue to rape. Secondly, women are not second class citizens and under no uncertain terms should women have to continue to endure that sort of treatment. No woman, or man for that matter, wants to be raped. No person should have to go through a rape only to be victimized again for reporting it. A man who rapes is not a man in my eyes and certainly not in the eyes of God. There is no excuse for it and it is foolish to blame rape on anything other than the rapist, it is that simple. Alcohol, attire, or for the simple fact that a rape victim possessed something that the rapist wanted without consent is absolutely no excuse. And thirdly, for those of you that want to bring in the "Gay Agenda" well shame on you. Men are also raped and sexually assaulted by women, not just by other men. It's not just gay men who rape. Like I said before, rape is rape. A rapist will rape whether he is gay or straight, it has everything to do with the individual and his perception of power and himself. Rape is a serious problem but if people continue to complicate it by blaming victims rather than rapist than the issue cannot be addressed properly and justice cannot be properly served.
Bulbajer
1 year ago
Felicia, your story is moving. God bless you.
Felicia
1 year ago
As a female veteran who was raped many years ago while serving in our military, I can tell you that this disturbing crime happens. I have read other articles dealing with this issue. People will assume that the victim of rape was drunk, and one thing led to another, blah, blah, blah. I can tell you that I had absolutely nothing to drink and was just simply thrown to the ground by a soldier twice my size. I was 19 and naive, I must admit. But I can see today that I in no way brought it upon myself. I did not report it because I had already been shown first-hand by my first sergeant that in matters of unwanted attention and abuse by male soldiers, that it was my word against theirs.

The greatest harm it did to me was that although I handled the rape in my own way, I simply served out my three year commitment, when I really would have had a great shot at a military career. It undermined my confidence in myself and my ability to judge my fellow soldiers. So, for you folks who don't want to believe how real this problem is, I say you don't know if you've not been there. I was not the only one.
Bulbajer
1 year ago
John, what makes you think that sexual abuse and promiscuity will increase in the army now that gays and heterosexuals will be treated equally?
john
1 year ago
I really never understood why or how a woman would want to serve the country as a combatant soldier.Personally I think they should not be allowed.I realize that they can and have been courageous and brave fighters..I just think the fighting should be left to the men.Now that gays can openly serve in the military..you will see more sexual assault and harrasssment as well as a breakdown in discipline and moral.The world is in a bad way in every aspect of society..the last bastion of discipline and moral with a strong structure was the military society...that sadly now has also become weakened and fallen to the agendas of extremist gays.
Joseph
1 year ago
The military is a 'necessary evil' in a dangerous world. It is, quite simply, a State funded killing machine, required for defense and the fighting of just wars. Women, as the bearers of life, should have no part in it. As Catholics we know that men and women are equal in value in dignity but complementary in their roles. Women should leave the killing to men and devote their energies to the cause of life.
Carmine Troncone
1 year ago
I found this article very disturbing. Serious accusations were made against the United States military and two secretaries of defense by name, without a single source being cited. "According to at least one peer-reviewed study," what study? Was it a university study? Who funded it? What or who was the sources for these accusations? Then we have "A growing number of advocates are claiming"? Again who are these advocates and what is their motivation? In the first sentence of the article it claims that one in three women are raped in the US military, I have serious reservations about that and doubt it is true. I do not understand how professional journalist can make such serious claims without citing a single source to back up these statistics. No law firm was even mentioned as handling the case. We can only hope that this article is more of an example of poor journalism than actual facts.
Gabriella
1 year ago
The woman was not created to carry weapons, to fight, to engage in armed combats...she was created to create peace, homes, and cooperate with God in creation of new life.
I am saddened by the situation and feel for the women who were abused in the military, it should have never happened. But, the nature is powerful and the sexual urge is the most powerful instinct we humans possess. All - men army would have avoided the whole problem. And as for the gays serving in the army - it is like putting wolves into a sheepfold.
Let's not fool ourselves and hide behind laws. We are who we are and as long as we ignore the human nature, we will have to face problems of this kind.
I do support our troops, owe them my gratitude and hope that they will soon be able to come home to their families. God protect them.
Rob
1 year ago
I'm going to go on a limb here and will accept chastisement if someone has something to counter, but I wonder if this has anything to do with the massive amount of stress the troops are under. These prolonged wars and multiple tours of duty have got to create all sorts of mental trauma. I'm not saying this excuses that behavior, but how much can you subject these guys to? It's shameful that we have guys on 3 and 4 tours while the majority of America is mostly worried about American Idol or crying that they may have to pay a little more tax. I hope in our efforts to burn and slash government, we remember we have an obligation to these guys. An the military leadership that is turning a blind eye to these rapes should be court martialed.

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