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Rape in the US military is a topic that the Department of Defense does not like seeing in the news, because it does not help with its recruitment process which requires a constant supply of fresh cannon fodder to feed the war machine. However, rape in the military is a systemic problem that has imposes a devastating personal toll on the victims, both male and female.
To find in-depth reporting on this issue, one must look to the foreign press, in this case Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera is not subject to the DoD censorship that is imposed on the untrustworthy organs of the Homeland media.
Must watch link for interviews with rape victims.
“I was paralyzed with fear. I was in disbelief… shame. When I reported it to the commander he sadi it was better for me to deal with it after being discharged. Nobody helped me, not even the chaplain.”
“My experience left me torn apart physically, mentally, and spiritually. I was dehumanized and treated with ultimate cruelty. And being part of an elite organization that values brother, integrity and faithfulness maide it hard to come forward.”
“Through the gossip mill we would hear of women who had reported being raped. No confidentially was maintained nor any protection given to the victims. The boys club culture is strong and the competition exclusive. That forces many not to report rape, because it is a blemish and can ruin your career.”
Susan Avila-Smith, an MST (military sexual trauma) survivor who has been working with female and male clients for over 15 years, spoke with Al Jazeera.
“People cannot conceive how badly wounded these people are. Of the 3,000 I’ve worked with, only one is employed. Combat trauma is bad enough, but with MST it’s not the enemy, it’s our guys who are doing it. You’re fighting your friends, your peers, people you’ve been told have your back. That betrayal, then the betrayal from the command is, they say, worse than the sexual assault itself.”
Earlier this month, the ACLU filed a lawsuit seeking Pentagon records to get the facts about the incidence of sexual assault in the military. The Pentagon has consistently refused to release information that documents this problem. Although sexual assaults on women have gotten some visibility, there has been absolute silence about male victims, of which there is an even larger number due to their sheer numbers in the military (at a rough estimate one in twenty).
One of the male victims, Billy Capshaw, was fated to become the Army roomate of Jeffrey Dahmer, the same Jeffrey Dahmer who went on to be come the sexual offender and serial killer of 17 boys. At the time, Capshaw complained to his commander who refused to believe him. No one else in the military was willing to help him either. Capshaw has since endured a lifelong debilitating struggle which is common among survivors of military sexual assault.
Although women have been allowed in the military since 1775, their travails have existed since that time. As a Command Sergeant Major told Catherine Jayne West of the Mississippi National Guard,
“There aren’t but two places for women – in the kitchen or in the bedroom. Women have no place in the military.”
Ms. West was raped at Camp Anaconda, Camp Anaconda, north of Baghdad. Although the army’s criminal investigation team concluded her story was true and it seemed like a closed case, the accused was promoted and later found guilty of kidnapping but not rape, despite his own admission of the crime.
Tracey Harmon, an dministrator for a combat engineering instruction unit in Knoxville, Tennessee, has no illusions.
“For women in the military, you are either a bitch, a dyke, or a whore. If you sleep with one person in your unit you are a whore. If you are a lesbian you are a dyke, and if you don’t sleep with other soldiers you are a bitch.”
In 2009 there were 3,230 case of sexual assault reported by the DoD, but victims and advocates believe the real figures are sure to be higher.
Susan Avila-Smith’s advice to victims of rape in the military is to
“go seek civilian help, try to stay out completely of the military jurisdiction if possible. Do not get involved legally through JAG or any other office because it’s a no-win situation for the victim.”
April Fitzsimmons, a military veteran who was also a victim of sexual assault, understands the uphill battle women victims face when taking on the military. She gives advice to women considering joining the US military.
“The crisis is so severe that I’m telling women to simply not join the military because it’s completely unsafe and puts them at risk. Until something changes at the top, no woman should join the military.”
Update: marymccurnin just posted the important link to the Military Rape Crisis Center.
14 Comments
It’s difficult to believe that in the 21st century women are still thought of as nothing but sexual objects. It’s maddening and horrible. As a female I certainly wouldn’t join the military under any circumstances. It’s shameful that the PTB don’t punish the rapists and maybe stop this crime. What can we do?
The economic downturn surely is causing women to turn to the military for lack of other options.
If more women were aware what holds in store for them in the military, namely being dehumanized and potentially broken for life, more like you would say NO to the military under any circumstances.
In the spirit of fairness, tshe slick recruitment commercials that run during prime time need to include 20 second comments by MST victims.
This is the continuing decline of civilization in this country. Women and men are raped in the military at an alarming rate. Citizens are accosted at airports by the TSA. Rape on college campuses is not taken seriously.
Well, maybe American is not in decline but the lack of maturation is reinforced by violence and silence. We are a country run by men who have the minds of teenage bullies. They run in groups and protect each other with their not so secret code of silence.
Military Rage Crisis Center
Given the state of our economy, our military provides a vital national institution for employment and training of both men and women.
The focus needs to be on reform.
Thank you for that important link.
You are very generous in saying that America may not be in decline, but if it is not, it will be in short order if the slide into the acceptance of violence continues. That slide seems even more unlikely to reverse when so-called religious leaders are in the forefront of promoting violence.
Here’s the link.
That is a most convenient trick. Initiate unjustified wars, then wreck the economy to create massive unemployment to funnel a steady supply of cannon fodder to perpetuate those wars.
What I actually meant was America has never grown up so decline is not possible.
America has never grown up because there have not been enough adults willing to step forward to tell the bullies to stop.
As you say, bullies have minds of children, so in principle the more mature have the moral stature to make them stop. Why that has not happened is another question.
No one should join the millitary. Its not a “safe” environment for men either. But WRT the specific crime of rape,the millitary isnt going to do anything about it. Stay away from millitary employment.
Soldiers raping a woman….totally fine.
A soldier having a secret guy he holds hands with when he’s off duty…..
DRUM THE QUEEN OUT WE MUST HAVE A PUUUUURRRRREEEEE MILITARY!!!
I have noticed the infantilization of American society over the years, especially regarding males.
Forever fourteen….
Yep, no doubt. But Blair, Bush and the neocon’s initiated the wars, not our military. Heck, it was Admiral Fallon that blocked the Bush admins insane drive to war with Iran.
On some levels, the military should be our allies. The rank and file of our military are not fond of the neocons and that discontent does seem to bubble up thru the ranks.
And our occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan are destroying the men and women of our military in a variety of ways. We need to bring them home now.
At university, the organizations which consistently had rape problems wasn’t the ROTC, it was the local football fraternity. Frats themselves are sorta bad but the football frat would best have been described as an institution of rape. Eventually the University shut the place down because it was entirely resistent to reform.
The biggest problem in our society is who we deify.
“No Woman Should Join the Military”
I think nobody should join the military might be more accurate,
But on the subject of women, one should not forget the child custody problems they may face if they are deployed overseas.