Preventing sexual assault in the military

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Preventing sexual assault in the military

This piece represents the opinion of the author:

Caitlin Hurwit

Columnist

April 22, 2011

At the beginning of April, Newsweek magazine ran an exposé on the so-called "secret shame" plaguing the military: in 2010, 50,000 former servicemen tested positive for sexual trauma sustained while in service, up from 30,000 in 2003.

In the wake of the repeal of that legal abomination "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," this scandal represents another dimension to the issue of homosexuality in the military: the danger of being openly out while in service comes just as much from the members of one's own unit as it does from commanding officers.

Although the psychology that has defined the persecution of the LGBTIQ community within the ranks of the military cannot change instantaneously, the fact that the issue is no longer completely taboo hopefully indicates a change in the treatment of sexual abuse for both servicemen and women. No soldier should be forced to undermine his or her identity in order to serve the United States of America.

It is worth noting that sexual violence in the military is not perpetrated solely against openly gay soldiers and personnel. Indeed, many straight men report being assaulted because, for one reason or another, they were identified as homosexual by their fellow soldiers or were seen as a threat to the cult of heterosexuality that seems to dominate the armed services.

One low-ranking soldier, Greg Jeloudov, was gang-raped during basic training; when he reported the incident to his commanding officer, he was instructed to sign an affidavit stating he was a "practicing homosexual," after which he was discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The insensitivity expressed in the wording of the document makes it all the more shocking that the Pentagon has ignored the issue until now.

As it stands now, only those veterans receiving 100 percent of their disability coverage are entitled to full treatment of the psychological trauma associated with sexual offenses. For other members of the military, in order to receive counseling services, the burden of proof is theirs alone, which indicates that medical testing would need to be performed soon after the assault in order to determine the validity of the accusations and the exact nature of the crime.

In a military culture that is shrouded in secrecy, hierarchy and domination, it is unsurprising to discover that the vast majority of victims do not report their crimes. The Pentagon released statistics suggesting that one in 15 male members of the Air Force report sexual assault, compared with one in five women; this estimate, by their own admission, is extremely low.

Even among civilians, rape is treated cautiously. Regardless of the victim, sexual assault is an act of violence perpetrated by those seeking dominance. The solution to the issue, of course, is not denial or the secrecy with which the issue has been treated: in March, Representative Chellie Pingree of Maine's First Congressional District proposed two new bills designed to ease the burden of proof for victims of sexual assault in the military. One of the bills, the Support for Survivors Act, would prevent the destruction of personnel records, many of which contain reports of sexual assault.

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are ongoing. Turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa remains at a boiling point. Although the political motivations for some of our military involvements are dubious at best, servicemen and women are continuously deployed for multiple tours of duty.

The emotional effects of war cannot be overstated, yet until recently, it was nearly impossible to receive treatment for combat-induced Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Even as the defense budget increases, medical benefits available to soldiers and veterans remain scant.

The personal sacrifices required of soldiers and the dangers inherent in prolonged combat necessitate a reform of support services available to veterans and active duty personnel. We cannot continue troop deployment without the infrastructure to support it, and if this requires a reduction in military presence elsewhere in the world, so be it.

It is now up to commanding officers in all branches of the military to set the standard for camaraderie and safety within their unit; it is the responsibility of the government to provide the medical resources required of military service.

Servicemen and women deserve and need full medical coverage for physical and psychological injuries sustained as a member of the military; anything less is a disappointment and dishonors their service.

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