Noteboom The Law Firm

Sexual Assault More Widespread Than Ever In Today’s Military

December 27, 2010 - Instances of sexual assault, especially rape, are widespread and essentially unchecked in the military. It has become so much of a problem that the military has begun issuing annual reports about rape and sexual assault amongst soldiers.

Reports aside, the mental impact rape has on its victims is devastating to the point where in the military has coined its own term, Military Sexual Trauma (MST). As opposed to those suffering from combat trauma, which is brought on by fighting the enemy, MST is brought on by the actions of those who are supposed to protect each other. The treachery and disloyalty from those soldiers who are assaulting their own can be more mentally damaging than the attack itself. 

Despite requests for records detailing the amount of sexual assaults committed against female soldiers and how they are being handled, the Pentagon refuses to release them. Sexual assaults against male soldiers have received absolutely no attention. The Pentagon's annual report detailing the amount of "sexual harassment and violence at the military service academies," shows sexual attacks are 64% higher than they were last year, and that doesn't take into account the attacks that were not reported.  

In 2008 testimony, the Army Chief of Personnel testified that of the 2,200 reported military rapes in 2007, 12% of them were reported by male soldiers.

MST can have devastating effects on its victims. Left unchecked, it is not difficult to see how MST can eventually develop into post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and subsequent deviant behavior. Regardless of the sex of the victim, military sexual trauma must be addressed and treated to protect all of our soldiers.