Noteboom The Law Firm

VA Not Appropriately Addressing Military Sexual Trauma

May 27, 2010 - According to the American Legion, both the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have been dragging their feet. The American Legion has spotlighted both organizations' failures to successfully handle sexual trauma issues among members of the military.

Denise Williams is the Assistant Director of Health Policy for the American Legion. According to her testimony to the House Subcommittees, sexual assaults within the military are rising significantly. In 2007, the DoD reported 2,688 sexual assaults whereas in 2008 they reported 2,908. Those statistics pale in comparison to the VA reports. The VA's number reflect over 90,000 veterans tested positive as suffering from Military Sexual Trauma (MST) in 2008.

Out of 9 VA medical centers visited, only 2 possessed residential treatment programs specializing in women suffering from MST. To the American Legion, these numbers indicate a real deficiency in attention to a real problem. The only information the VA has extended has been located on their internal server. The VA has offered absolutely no external information regarding MST treatment and/or counseling.  

Seeing the need, the American Legion developed their own professional service officers in every state. The officers will be specifically trained in handling veterans suffering from MST. Beyond that, the officers can help veterans and their families file benefit claims.

A recent GAO report found the VA's policy on training for their mental health professionals was ambiguous and not nearly detailed enough to be as effective as they need to be to properly counsel MST patients. Williams wants VA Secretary Eric Shinseki to intervene and create a standard for training across the board.

It is hoped the more intervention the DoD and the VA provide, the more likely victims will report their assaults. Because most perpetrators are also in the military and very likely work with their victims, the reality is very few assaults are reported. The somewhat oppressive military culture usually wins out over female victims and they are forced to live with the assault. It is time for this to end.