2003 survey of women using VA health system reports that 28% experienced at least 1 sexual assault

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15005484

Reported Cases of Sexual Assault in Military Rise
by Michele Norris

Fourth in a five-part series.

All Things Considered, October 4, 2007 · Since 2002, the Miles Foundation — a private, nonprofit organization that tracks sexual assault within the armed forces — has received 976 reports of sexual assault in the Central Command Area of Responsibility, which includes Iraq and Afghanistan.

Christine Hansen, executive director of the foundation, says the group is seeing a steady upward trend in the number of reported cases of sexual assault — increases of 10 percent to 15 percent each quarter. The figures are higher than those reported by the Department of Defense, she says, because the Miles Foundation provides private and confidential services to women, making it more likely for them to report incidents of sexual assault.

Among the organization's findings, Hansen says, are reports from female service members of cases of gang rape and rape involving serial offenders. She says that the most predominant type of assault is acquaintance or date rape, which in the military is termed "offender-known rape."

The commanders of alleged assailants have a spectrum of disciplinary responses: from zero response to a criminal-justice proceeding within the military, or court martial. But Hansen says her group has found that the predominant response is that of administrative action, such as a letter of reprimand in a personnel file or forfeiture of pay and allowances.

Scars of War Run Deep for Many Female Vets

Female soldiers have been returning from Iraq with not only combat-related trauma, but also with deep emotional wounds known as military sexual trauma. A 2003 survey of women using the Veterans Administration health care system reports that 28 percent experienced at least one sexual assault during military service. And that sexual trauma, combined with combat trauma, makes women far more vulnerable to post-traumatic stress disorder.

At a VA residential program in Menlo Park, Calif., many women have experienced what psychologists call the "double whammy" of combat trauma and sexual assault.

For some women, the two- to three-month program is the last stop in what has been a decades-long and difficult journey. For the younger women the sound of roadside bombs is still fresh in their memories.

'Rape by Rank'

Just three years ago, veteran Sandra wore a helmet and body armor on the streets of Baghdad. Her primary job was rebuilding schools. One day the truck she was driving was hit by a roadside bomb.

The violence she witnessed is the source of nightmares and flashbacks. But when Sandra, a resident at the women's trauma recovery program in Menlo Park, speaks of the trauma, it is a singular event she recalls — a very personal one. Sandra is among a growing number of young women who have returned from Iraq with both combat trauma and sexual assault.

[Submariner]

1. It's time for these women to pull their sidearms and just

blow the heads off these rapists. If not at the time of the rape, then go to the bunk of the rapist, wake him up, and when he opens is eyes, let him see the bullet coming.

Women need to start killing these slimeballs. I look forward to seeing some revenge killings. It's long overdue.

[Annces]

2. Wouldn't they spend the rest of their lives in jail?

However being in the military, I think they should know some good defense tactics.

[Whisp]

3. !

I can't respond just yet as I am flabbergasted, but hope others will have the words to straighten out your twisted thoughts on this.

[Annces]

4. Good way to be completely vague and insulting

[Whisp]

5. good way to say the victims should have been able to prevent these assaults.

come on. boot camp have rape prevention courses for women soldiers?
you're out in a bloody needless war and your biggest enemy may be your fellow soldiers 101. class at 11.

[daninthemoon]

6. Is this number reflective of the miliitary only, or does it also reflect

America at large? If it does reflect America, does it reflect an increase over the past? If it reflects an increase, does it reflect an increase in assaults, or reports of assaults? Since this is from VA records, these are things that happened some time past, not present. Another thing about VA records is that they tend to be more complete than other type medical records, as they are designed to get a complete a history over a broad range of things. Some sad and sobering thoughts.

[Cerridwen]

7. There's a link to one woman's story in this DU thread...

link to DU thread

Grab your tissue then click the link in the thread.

So, while you're out on patrol you don't know who the enemy is. Then you return at the end of patrol and you don't know who your enemy is.