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Quite a headline, quite a claim.
Rape victims labeled CRAZY.
It gets you in the gut.
Story after story from women in the military who say they not only endured the horror of rape by those they served with, but when they reported it, they were either not believed or were treated so dismissively, it lead to even more trauma after the crime they had already endured.
The Department of Defense just released it’s report of sexual assaults in the military and the numbers are up from last year. There were nearly 3200 reported sexual assaults in the military in 2011. We, of course, know this is one of the most under-reported crimes, so in all likelihood the numbers are higher.
The report goes on to outline steps the DOD is taking in prevention:
- Establishment of a sexual assault advocate credentialing and certification program
- Expansion of sexual assault support services to military spouses and adult military dependents
- Increased funding for investigators and judge advocates to receive additional specialized training
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says, “Sexual assault has no place in this department. It is an affront to the basic American values we defend, and to the good honor of our service members and their families.”
Those are powerful words, but it’s too late for women like Stephanie Schroeder who says she was called a liar and worse when she reported being kicked, punched and raped by a fellow Marine.
Read Stephanie’s story and the stories of other women who say when they told of being raped while serving the country, they were given a psychiatric diagnosis.
The Department of Defense has a Safe Helpline for military survivors of sexual assault.
The 24-hour number is 877-995-5247.
HERE is the Safe Helpline website.
*pic courtesy CNN.com
Thank you Richelle for this. I’m not around a TV, but I hope this is being reported on CNN/HLN because this needs more exposure and attention. I don’t believe it is brought up enough within the media and the public because I don’t believe any of us like to think of our military in that way. Unfortunately it does happen and is swept under the rug. I researched just military rape and I’m astounded at the lack of protection, privacy, and advocacy these victims are given if they do come forward. There are some that get the justice they deserve, but many do not. I believe the laws/rules regarding rape within the military need to be changed..I believed that either law enforcement outside of the military need to handle it or unbiased military police and certain military people need to handle this because from what I read when a victim does speak out it goes right up their own chain of command so everyone they work with and around knows about what happened to them when it’s usually someone within their own unit that has raped them. I believe that it is uncalled for to have that many people know about what happened to you when usually the most a rape victim wants is privacy along with justice. People that rape that are within the military are not soldiers and should not be treated as such. I believe if this issue was highlighted within the public and really talked about that we could change how rape is handled within the military and get the victims brave enough to say something the justice they deserve because in my mind the victims are the real soldiers and they should be honored for their bravery..not shunned and labeled crazy. I love our military, but I believe this is one huge thing that our military needs to improve on.
Honestly, this story just makes me want to vomit. Sad just isn’t enough of a word to describe that these women have been forced to endure. The Army (which I have experience with) has a habit of closing ranks anytime one of their own is accused of anything. They sweep it under the rug as fast as possible, and get rid of the people causing the problem.
When I reported to the company commander about my ex molesting our daughter, I did so with email confessions from him (he was stationed in Afghanistan at the time he confessed). The unit made it clear to me that I was not to have contact nay longer with the other spouses/family members/soldiers in the unit. They brought him back where he admitted to the crime to authorities. His chain of command didn’t ensure that he followed the conditions of his bond release-mainly that he be escorted by one of them whenever he left base-and he showed up at court and DSS meetings without them. Three months later, he was quietly discharged. The Army opted NOT to prosecute him for even just conduct unbecoming, even after I pleaded with the special prosecutor to do at least that much.
I was an Army brat, and grew up in the military before marrying my ex to whom I was married to for over 10 years. With 5 children to care for on my own, the Army didn’t even ensure that he paid the minimal child support that was required by Army regulation. They wanted the situation gone, along with all of us. After a lifetime of supporting the military as a family member, even receiving the Iron Mike Award for my volunteer service, everything that I worked for was gone. My medical benefits, my kids’ ability to use the GI Bill, and the group of people that I had once considered my extended family that would no longer speak to me.
We lost it all, while they embraced ‘Him’…
These women are awesome to stand up after all they have been through-I wish them the very best, and hope that they overcome not only for themselves, but also for the other victims that are being ignored and re-victimized by those who should be protecting them.
Wow….I thought I was the only one treated as “crazy” or the liar out to ruin someone’s military career! While I am over the pity parties and the strange stares as the “girl” that’s stuff happened to, I am also over the sugar coating the military go thru to make it look as though it is decreasing or they have ZERO Tolrance……LOL. Truth is NO means no MST military sexual trama is a fancy ‘safe’ way of saying someone was rape without saying it. They will however assign you a Trama recovery military sexual therapist and put you on a whole bunch of crazy people meds just as precaution. While the rapist is able to transfer to another post for rehabilative reason the victims are left with the thoughts, aftermaths, and label that will surely follow you, everywhere you go.
Honestly it is truly a shame when a victim of such a horrific crime is met with hostility and doubt instead of the compassion, understanding, and justice that they need and deserve. There are far too many cases of rape in our military as well as everyday society where the victim (usually a woman) has to face scrutiny for everything about herself instead of immediately attacking the issue of the crime that had been committed against her. There is ABSOLUTELY NO JUSTIFICATION for rape but far too often time is wasted on what the victim was doing to put herself in the “wrong” position instead of actively seeking punishment for the perpetrators. Its disgusting the amount of distraction that is allowed in rape cases that the whole point is usually missed. There is a victim who needs help, in the form of counseling, and justice. Never should it be ok to further cause them harm and trauma by not pursuing justice to the fullest extent of the law and with the utmost compassion to the victim.