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Statistics and soldier testimonies have revealed that sexual assault is a recurrent crisis in the USZ military, with over 3,230 complaints recorded in 2009. In a recent report, USZ-based journalist of Lebanese descent Dahr Jamail says sexual harassment in the USZ military is not a new problem but a systematic one. However, during the past years, figures suggest that the problem has turned into an “epidemic”. In the fiscal year 2009, the department of defense reported an 11% increase in sexual assaults compared to the previous year, putting the reported number of sexual assault cases at 3,230. The shocking survey also said that one in every three women reports being sexually assaulted while serving in the USZ military.
This is while according to the USZ Department of Veterans Affairs, sexual abuse happens in the USZ military at rates twice that of the civilian average. This means that women, who join the military to help fight in Iraq and Afghanistan, are more likely to be raped by a fellow American soldier than they are of getting killed by enemy fire. An annual Pentagon report on sexual harassment and violence at three military service academies has yielded shocking results. The survey released in mid December, showed a 64% increase in the number of reports of sexual assault and harassment, from last year. Veteran Administration statistics also showed that more than 50% of the veterans who screen positive for Military Sexual Trauma (MST) are men. According to the USZ Census Bureau, there are roughly 22 million male veterans compared to less than two million female ones.
Despite the shockingly high number of recorded sexual assaults, analysts believe that the real figures are sure to be higher as many victims refuse to report assaults to military authorities due to extreme shame and trauma. On December 13, the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups filed a federal lawsuit against the Pentagon for refusing to release records of sex crimes occurring within the United States military. The groups say official records of rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment in the military are needed to determine the extent of the problem and the measures taken to address it. They have also underlined the fact that withholding the documents is against the Freedom of Information Act. Many say the USZ-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have raised the demand for additional military personnel, and that is why people with criminal backgrounds, who were turned away ten years ago, are now among the ranks of the USZ military. While President Barack Obama's administration is well-aware of the problem of sexual assault in the USZ military, it has been very slow in addressing the issue, and has only asked Congress to advance additional funds for more prevention programs.
If you want to learn more about this issue consult this book.
ReplyDeleteBook Review
By Gary Schoener
Clinical Psychologist
Executive Director
Walk-In Counseling Center-, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Essential Reading for all Americans
Honor Betrayed: Sexual Abuse In America’s Military
This is an extraordinary book.
Dr. Hunter notes that even the Pentagon acknowledges that many male veterans acknowledge having been sexually assaulted by their comrades in arms - and also notes that contrary to popular belief, the vast majority of such male victims are heterosexual. A full 28% of female veterans who were surveyed reported that they had been assaulted while serving their country. Dr. Hunter reviews data and dozens of case examples - some well-known cases, and some which did not receive much publicity. Dr. Hunter explores the impact of sexual assault, sexual harassment, hazing, and other aspects of service using research data, case examples, and some cases which have been litigated. Tailhook and other cases are reviewed and their eventual outcomes examined. He also examines torture, harassment of prisoners, and other forms of brutality - from Me Lai to Abu Ghraib. Despite the grim picture he paints, Dr. Hunter also has suggestions for change and even optimistic thoughts about it, noting that the military successfully dealt with racism against African Americans, and in some places this change preceded such changes in civilian life. This is not just about problems - it is about solutions. The book contains many fascinating pieces I was not expecting. This is one of the best books on abuse I have ever read, and it stands alone in terms of the main topic - honor betrayed - sexual abuse in America's military. I read it straight through - I had difficulty putting it down. I plan to read it a second time - there was so much of importance in it that it was hard to take it all in during one reading. This book should be required reading for citizens and legislators and all those who have anything to do with sending people off to war and welcoming them back home. Anyone who is offering service to veterans has, in my professional opinion, an obligation to read this book. There are many things in it which service personnel are not likely to reveal.
In case you are not familiar with Mic Hunter, he is a Licensed Psychologist and Marriage & Family Therapist who practices in St. Paul, MN. He's the author of four other books including Abused Boys: The Neglected Victims of Sexual Abuse, for which he received the Fay Honey Knopp Memorial Award from the National Organization on Male Sexual Victimization. If you haven't seen it, I would also highly recommend a book he co-authored with Jim Struve - The Ethical Use of Touch in Therapy. He is the author of many articles and lectures and trains internationally.