Alarming Sex Assault Rate Found Among Vets

CBS Evening News: Records Show 1 In 7 Female Iraq And Afghanistan Veterans Treated By The VA Suffered Sexual Trauma

(CBS)  For a soldier, the wounds of war can be felt long after a tour of duty ends, CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports, and not all of them are inflicted by the enemy. Tuesday, researchers reported that an alarming number of female soldiers have sought treatment for sexual assault committed by fellow soldiers.

A Veterans Administration study found that one in seven female veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan seeking medical care from the VA suffered sexual trauma - everything from harassment to rape.

Medical records of 125,000 war veterans, both men and women, showed 15 percent of the women reported sexual trauma. That works out to nearly 2,600 veterans.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg, since the study covered only a fraction of the 870,000 veterans who have fought - and none still on active duty.

"I do feel that it is much higher than that, and if they could get the records of all the women that have returned that had been sexually assaulted, those afraid to come in, they would find that it's a lot higher," said Wanda Story.

Story, who was raped twice during her military service 20 years ago, now heads the United Female Veterans of America.

She says the military has done a lot to improve the climate for women, but war makes it worse.

"They're out there, they're away from their families, they're away from their girlfriends, you know, their wives," she said. "They see an opportunity."

A recent survey by the Government Accountability Office of just 13 military bases found 103 servicemembers who say they've been sexually assaulted in the previous 12 months. Numbers like that produced this jaw-dropping statement by Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif.:

"Women serving in the military today are more likely to be raped by a fellow soldier than to be killed by enemy fire in Iraq," Harman said.

And women who suffer sexual trauma are more likely to develop medical and mental problems. Studies show it ranks high - or higher - than combat as a cause of post-traumatic stress disorder.

[neonink]

and to think, GI Joe is still afraid of Liberace...

DeckardBR, I hope you find your''s...

[mumu11]

Deckard, your deck is short by more than one card if that''s what you believe. No one, neither male (because, yes, while they dare even less than women to talk about it, a non negligible number of male soldiers have been raped by their fellows) nor female, wants to be raped and there is no excuse for the barbaric behavior. Female soldiers have exactly the same motivations, ranging from the GI Bill to loyalty to one''s country, or even avoiding unemployment, for joining the military as their male counterparts.

[gracefoster]

Is this why men don''t want *** in the military? They are afraid of getting a dose of their own medicine?

[gracefoster]

Why is the word g.a.y censored CBS? How prejudice!

[u-r-right]

Women do not belong on the front lines with men.

[ybotheratall]

Look, I am ALL about hating rape and sexual assault in ANY form. However, I am extremely old fashioned and the only thing I believe a woman should be doing in the military is dressing a wound as a nurse. I have always believed in women in traditional roles and as a woman who stayed home to raise her children and now as a grandmother whose daughters also stay home to raise their children (AND a decorated military son) this whole new way of equality is doing nothing good.

[vcofreason]

There was a time in this country when women wore dresses and heels to go food shopping, fathers put their hat on and went to work in a pressed suit and children took care of their chores and respected their parents. Then, equal rights started and all this diversity BS and the world is a mess. Mom got a job and no one watched (nor raised) the kids anymore. You can almost pinpoint when the decline began. Women no more belong in the military than they belong being priests.

[cbscrash072]

Put women into combat. You probably wouldn''t rape the women who will be covering your back the next day. She might shoot you herself or let that insurgent have you. I know for a fact there are a few in the military who simply do not belong. They bring dishonor and shame to our military. Although Harassment is to be expected. Thats what men do we sexually harass each other constantly from a young age. Now you want us to change because women are present? Screw that. I had to suffer through it they should too, otherwise they are not equal. They can''t handle it like a man would.

[u-r-right]

There was a time in this country when women wore dresses and heels to go food shopping, fathers put their hat on and went to work in a pressed suit and children took care of their chores and respected their parents. Then, equal rights started and all this diversity BS and the world is a mess. Mom got a job and no one watched (nor raised) the kids anymore. You can almost pinpoint when the decline began. Women no more belong in the military than they belong being priests.

Posted by VcofReason at 08:52 PM : Oct 28, 2008

Exactly. Very well written. Society was much more better off when clear lines were drawn between male and female.

[vcofreason]

My husband earns plenty to support his family. He stayed in school, got a good job and lived within his means; we do to this day. He is a fantastic father and helps out tremendously. Since my full time job is being home, many evenings I get to put my feet up while things get done off my watch. It''s called a family, doing things together, being a team, raising children properly with values.

I couldn''t care less about how many teams my kids were on or how many playdates they attended. I never cared what my neighbors drove or wore.
----------------------
Maybe Dad should help rasing kids. Especially if Dad can''''t earn enough money to cover his whole family.

Posted by rafterman1 at 08:57 PM

[tesan1]

As I remember, rape is an instrument of war...to justify the adjustment of a man to a combat environment and then ask him to revert to being a gentleman is contradictory.

The men are not being oprotunistic...they''re adapting to the mental schematic of warefare, as has been proven for generations based on the sociological after-affects in the lives of a number of servicemen as they try and readjust to society.

[vcofreason]

I completely realize that my "vision" of family is a bit far fetched for most people. I am NOT saying that there aren''t families where both parents have to work and that there is anything wrong with that. My brother and his wife work hard because they have extraordinary expenses due to a medical condition. However, I believe that this country used to be less about "Me", "PC" and more about family and morals. I don''t wear a dress and heels to go food shopping, but I do like to look at the pictures of my mother and her siblings heading off to an outing dressed in their Sunday best. People ate meals together and Sundays were sacred. We are a plugged in, 24 an hour society and it''s hurting us. We need to slow down and it''s not going to happen. Very sad.
------------------------
I sort of agree with VcofReason. No way we are going back though...

Posted by mortal3 at 09:09 PM

[keryolen]

So many comments here make it sound like it''s the woman''s fault she was raped. The men just couldn''t help it?? I suppose many here also think that if a woman dresses in a short skirt that she''s also just asking to be raped and deserves it since poor men just can''t help themselves. Get real, people

[talk2chief]

Statistics will show that sexual assaults on college campus are at least 20 times more frequent in college dorms than in military barracks.

Nevertheless, it should never happen in the military. A lack of discipline is direct reflection on the senior leadership, not the junior ranks. Active leadership requires total responsibility of their troopers good order and discipline. Anything less is culpable negligence.

College is a different story...

[czphoenix]

As a female veteran who was sexually traumatized in the military, I think that a few things should be said. First, it''s easy to blame it on being away from home, the stress of war, etc. However, I was in the peace time service, in the US, and it still happened. And when I tried to report it to my supervisors I was ignored.

[talk2chief]

Posted by CZPhoenix

Not that this advice is of any good to you at this moment time, but maybe this can help the next vet. Any service member currently serving in the military who is sexually assaulted and brings it to the attention of their immediate supervisor and he or she takes no action, or places little interest your legal right or well being, then your next step is to report it to your command Judge Advocate General, or Chaplin.

Another action that will get attention very quickly is requesting a congressional investigation.

[ciocia1]

VcofReason, you and other seem to "hate rape," but you blame women for it. The perpetrators are at fault, not the victims. And mothers with jobs and who do not dress up to your specs are not to blame, either. Rape has been used as a weapon of war for ages, even before women got jobs you disapproved of. Besides, the reason many of these women are in Iraq is that men are refusing to enlist. The women''s places could be taken any day by male recruits, but that''s not happening, is it? As a nation, we are shamed by men who rape their own comrades, and men who are letting women do what you would consider a man''s job.

[tsgtveteran]

I spent 12 years in the service and I can state for fact that it was RARE for a woman to hold her own next to a man. We give into you, make you FEEL powerful, we lower standards so you can feel successful, we allow you to have dress and appearance relaxed standards, make you lift less, run shorter times, and less push-ups...LESS standards and work for the same pay. It is biased. Furthermore, on the sexual part, I dont buy "all" of the cases. I lived in the dorms and women were plenty and WILLING. On top of that, they got drunk, made out with guys in the dorm at parties, went home and did their thing and even glorified that they slept with some "hot guy" only to cry assault after the men told everyone they hooked up. That was 99% of the problem, the men talked and made her out to look cheap and then she felt dirty and filed against him. In fact, four women I know were discharged for false accusations because other couples were in the room when these things happened. Anyone in the service knows what kind of CRAZY parties and things happen in the dorms. There is NO privacy in the military. If women feel harrassed because a guy tried to hit on you...PLEASE. In most cases, if not all, none of us would even be here if your Daddy didnt make some moves on your Mommy. SAD !!

[tsgtveteran]

However, if their is a clear case of assaulted RAPE, yes, that is a MAJOR issue. I''d be willing to bet, many of these cases involve a romance gone haywire or an oversensitive woman.

[erasmus81]

"They''re out there, they''re away from their families, they''re away from their girlfriends, you know, their wives," she said. "They see an opportunity."

So that "opportunity" means RAPE?????

[erasmus81]

Posted by TSgtVeteran at 09:56 PM : Oct 28, 2008

You sound like an A-S-S.

You were probably one of those rapists. If not, I bet you did your own share of harassing the women.

[granmom6]

I raised 2 beautiful daughters who have been assaulted and raped by United States military officers. My daughters have more strength and character than a dozen men who claim to uphold the Uniform Code of Military Justice. If men in uniform can commit atrocities at home without punishment, what do we expect of them in times of duress?

[emelder]

I raised 2 beautiful daughters who have been assaulted and raped by United States military officers. My daughters have more strength and character than a dozen men who claim to uphold the Uniform Code of Military Justice. If men in uniform can commit atrocities at home without punishment, what do we expect of them in times of duress?

Posted by granmom6 at 10:21 PM

I believe you. Please support them in stepping forward and holding the men accountable.

[daffy64]

Women belong in the military. Unfortunately, many men do not. Countries like Israel have had women in the front lines for years without problem. H3ll, the Russians used them on the front lines in WWII. Some of their best snipers were women. Yet it seems only American soldiers have problems with women. That makes me think its a problem with many male American soldiers being on the front lones, not women.

---

Israel is a great example. They tried women combat soldiers on the front line and quietly determined it didn''t work. None of the soldiers fighting in front line units are women. They are reserves and noncoms.

Canada bragged it would have 25% women combat soldiers within a few years of letting them enter combat roles. However, 99% of the casualties being taken in Afghanistan are males. The women are back guarding the barracks.

It doesn''t work.

[daffy64]

On other thought: if women are capable of fighting in front line units, does that mean they will be drafted in the future?

I doubt it.

Sexism.

[differnet]

As both a female vet and a rape survivor, I would just like to give some perspective to this story. In 1998 almost 100,000 civilian rapes were reported in the USA. That''s the rapes that were reported. American females have between a 1 in 4 chance to 1 in 6 chance of being sexually assualted, depending upon your source, among the general population. I also want to tell you that while in the US Army, I served in JAG and assisted in the prosecution of rape charges.

The truth is that rape is no more or less likely to happen to a woman in the military than it is on the streets of the USA. Men throughout the war are waging war on women. You can tell yourself that it won''t happen to your sister or your mother and that you would never committ rape, but you are lying to yourself. As John Lennon said, "Woman is the *** of the World."

[differnet]

I''m sorry, I meant to say that, "Men throught the world are waging war on women."

[differnet]

As both a female vet and a rape survivor, I would just like to give some perspective to this story. In 1998 almost 100,000 civilian rapes were reported in the USA. That''''s the rapes that were reported. American females have between a 1 in 4 chance to 1 in 6 chance of being sexually assualted, depending upon your source, among the general population. I also want to tell you that while in the US Army, I served in JAG and assisted in the prosecution of rape charges. I know all about how rape is treated in the military and believe me it''s one of the most hated crimes and JAG pursues the criminals to the full extent of Military Justice.

The truth is that rape is no more or less likely to happen to a woman in the military than it is on the streets of the USA. Men throughout the world are waging war on women. You can tell yourself that it won''''t happen to your sister or your mother and that you would never committ rape, but you are lying to yourself. As John Lennon said, "Woman is the N*gger of the World."


I''m reposting this because some troll is trying to frag the board.

[tamisuewho-2009]

AUTUMN: Are you high or just insane?

[tamisuewho-2009]

People WANT ***...it is natural.
Just because your are in the military does not change that. *** is FUN!
========================================================
Did your mother raise you to be an idiot or did you make yourself into one? Or maybe you have idiot parents who just didn''t know how to raise you.

[tamisuewho-2009]

AUTUMN987 has had one to many jello shots for sure!

[tamisuewho-2009]

I''''m sorry, I meant to say that, "Men throught the world are waging war on women."
========================================================
That''s because they are, in reality, a bunch of scared little boys who lack self control and in order to feel powerful, to feel in control ( of something, anything ), these little men pick on females. My! What a bunch of Pansies( not what I WANTED to call them ) They are the most worthless creatures crawling across the planet anymore. Especially now days.

[sara48909]

I see nothing has changed in the military. In 1970 I was serving my country in the Navy and was raped by a marine. Because he was shipping out to Nam the following week JAG didn''t bother to pursue it and he was allowed to get away with it. It has been almost 40 years and women are no safer now than they were then. Look at the Air Force Academy and all the women who have been sexually assaulted there. Someday our government will offer equal protection under the law for women as well as men, but I doubt I will be alive to see it.

[differnet]

sara, as one rape survivor to another, I''m sorry that you were raped. However, you are just as likely, and perhaps slightly more likely, as a civilian. My rape took place when two men broke into my apartment, beat me and sent me to the hospital. My military career was one of the best things that ever happened to me.

What I want to know is where is the outcry at the rape rates on the streets of America. If every year hundreds of thousands of rapes are taking place here in the USA, where is the outcry from congress about that? Why aren''t there investigations as to what is happening within our culture that makes rape acceptable.

Look at the orgy of misogyny that we have seen this past year in the political campaigns. It''s perfectly alright to call female politicians b*tch, c*nt and even to lynch them in effigy. Imagine the outcry if a black politician was called n*gger or hung in effigy. We are swamped with hatred of women in our society. Then we are suprised at the rape rates? It makes my head reel.

[grandesign]

Look at the orgy of misogyny that we have seen this past year . . .
Posted by differnet at 11:56 PM : Oct 28, 2008

Interesting choice of words.

[smurfcrusher]

One assault is one too many. But it looks like the numbers are screwed up. Above, it says,
"Medical records of 125,000 war veterans, both men and women, showed 15 percent reported sexual trauma. That works out to nearly 2,600 veterans, almost all women. "

Do the math. 2600 veterans would be ONE POINT FIVE percent of 125,000 , NOT 15 percent.

Looks like someone misplaced a decimal point.

[grandesign]

meant to say that, "Men throught the world are waging war on women."
Posted by differnet at 11:07 PM : Oct 28, 2008

Men throughout the world are waging war on their mother''s hold over them, which they sublimate in various ways. One of which is to become empowered over other women with se xual intercourse.

[sara48909]

At least as a civilian a rape victim has the power to sue the rapist, the police, the prosecutors office and anyone who fails to pursue the prosecution of a crime with due diligence. In the military there are no options. The victim is stuck with whatever "justice" the military decides is appropriate. I have always wondered how many more women he raped that wouldn''t have had to suffer if JAG had prosecuted him.

[caliengineer]

A woman in my unit was raped by an in-country national, not a soldier.

Rape and molestation transfer a spirit. This spirit causes we sexually abused (molested at 2 yo, here) to become either targets ourselves or aggressors of the same act. But, two people with this spirit will find each other in a crowd.

Because we quit believing everything Jesus taught, we are now subject to the unrestricted warfare of the "spirit of corrupt ***".

Only after I went before Jesus and just prayed and wept and prayed and wept did He show me my pain (it was suppressed). After that, I had only better relationships. I am now VERY happily married.

And i have PEACE. Jesus will take YOUR burden, too.

[smurfcrusher]

"Truth is, some men would rather die than rape a woman, thank you very much."

Posted by smurfcrusher

Or a man, for that matter.

[smurfcrusher]

"
And i have PEACE. Jesus will take YOUR burden, too."

Posted by caliengineer

I''m glad your fairy tale helped you. And so is your prospective victim.

BTW, did you know the Egyptian story of Horus? Half god, born to a virgin, baptised in a river (the baptist was later beheaded), and Horus was eventually crucified?

All this 1280 B.C. As the story goes.

[caliengineer]

2600/125000 = .0208, or about 2.1%

[grandesign]

"And women who suffer sexual trauma are more likely to develop medical and mental problems. Studies show it ranks high - or higher - than combat as a cause of post-traumatic stress disorder."

Another GREAT reason women should not be allowed in a war zone. Let them be nurses behind the lines. Men, whether soilders or football players, cannot hold back their urges when so must of their work relies on testosterone and pent-up discipline.

[caliengineer]

BTW, did you know the Egyptian story of Horus? Half god, born to a virgin, baptised in a river (the baptist was later beheaded), and Horus was eventually crucified?
-from smurflover

Ha! This is Satan''s propoganda, from Zeitgeist- a standard demonic plan: mix a bunch of truth with lies.

If you want to know the truth, you must study. Your lateral move of (dis)information makes you deceived, not wise.

[grandesign]

Jesus will take YOUR burden, too.
Posted by caliengineer at 12:11 AM : Oct 29, 2008

I have more than one. Does he have a plan that covers multiple burdens? Still no cost, right?

[smurfcrusher]

"BTW, did you know the Egyptian story of Horus? Half god, born to a virgin, baptised in a river (the baptist was later beheaded), and Horus was eventually crucified?
-from smurflover

Ha! This is Satan''''s propoganda, from Zeitgeist- a standard demonic plan: mix a bunch of truth with lies.

If you want to know the truth, you must study. Your lateral move of (dis)information makes you deceived, not wise."

Posted by caliengineer

Jesus saves. Imagine the interest! $$

Just because you''re a Jesus Freak doesn''t mean you''re right. Egypt''s history is very well documented, thank you very much.

p.s. There is no Hell. The Earth''s core is molten iron, and volcanoes are natural phenomena. Oh, and space is a cold vacuum. Not a great vacation spot for eternity.

[mumu11]

Many have posted that women brought rape and harassment on themselves when they started working outside their home. On which planet do those people live? Women, have been raped for as long a human memory goes (see you Bible or the Greek and Latin history if you doubt it. Yet, women in the whole world and for the at least the past 5000 years, have produce 75% of the food (yep, they''re the ones working the fields or tending to the gathering while men hunt and tend the cattle: 25% of the food). The stay-at-home woman was a status reserved to the very rich until the 1950, BUT ONLY in America and Western Europe, and it only lasted 10 years as an almost generalized woman''s condition in those country. If anything, modern women work LESS outside the home than the previous generation, and are LESS likely to be raped than a century ago (of course, then men thought is was normal, so it wasn''t worth mentioning at all.

[grandesign]

Women, have been raped for as long a human memory goes (see you Bible or the Greek and Latin history if you doubt it.
Posted by mumu11 at 12:22 AM : Oct 29, 2008

Yeah, while my history doesn''t go that far back--I remember when I was a teen-ager I''d put the moves on certain young ladies and got to second and third base. Before I was sixteen, I got homeruns a couple times. Later, they called that date rape. Go figure. It took me lots of tries to get it right, so practice made me better. I don''t know how well the girls enjoyed it--I didn''t think in those terms until later in life.

[drivelphobe]

Men who rape are spineless wimps and clearly mentally dysfunctional. They are an embarrassment to all real men. Better testing might be utilized in the selection of candidates for our armed forces. It just seems inconceivable to me that a man would find any satisfaction with a rape. They represent the worst of the male population and should be shot.

[doctajim]

I was drafted during the Vietnam war and counseled vets for the VA, while in grad school. I listened to Southern "Christian" Republicans with KKK leanings speak openly about how they''d like to "get back to the Nam and shoot some more dinks" and who openly gloated about raping Vietnamese girls, with one bragging about shooting her to "put her out of her misery ... after all, I''d do it for a dog." Body souvenir collections were then common.
It was these soldiers(?) who harbored the greatest hatred towards draft resisters and even non-combat vets - claiming in some delusional fashion that being wanton killers who loved exterminating others made them somehow, "more American" - that wanting to kill for America made one an American. Most wanted to shoot American protestors, hippy chicks, draft resisters, and "*** Commie-liberals", discounting each group as "un-American" and "unworthy of breathing the air I exhale". I see the same delusion in this war, by the same group of McCain aggrandizers - supposed Christians whose reasoning is more like that of insane, barbaric, imperialistic Crusaders. Then as now, raping women, even fellow female soldiers was part of their "dominant" pathology. In Vietnam, these rapists were fragged whenever possible.