March 17, 2009
Sexual Assault Permeates U.S. Armed Forces
CBS Evening News: Shocking Report On Frequent Attacks, Low Rate Of Investigation, Prosecution
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Play CBS Video Video Sex Abuse And Female Soldiers Katie Couric investigates an alarming trend in the U.S. military, as more and more female soldiers have come forward with tales of sexual abuse at the hands of male soldiers and superior officers.
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Jessica, who served on an Apache helicopter maintenance crew, was sexually assaulted during her time in the army. (CBS)
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Interactive Sexual Assault Facts and statistics on sexual assault and rape, with victim resources.
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Interactive Military 101 Basic training to learn all about America's fighting force.
Jessica was one of those women. Born into a military family, at 24 she enlisted in the Army.
Following basic training she was posted half a world away at Camp Humphreys in South Korea. She was assigned to an Apache helicopter maintenance crew, one of three women in a unit of 60 men. Jessica worked hard to blend into a very macho world, CBS News anchor Katie Couric reports.
“You figure out how to turn the guy off, and become one of the guys,” she said. “That’s your safety mechanism.”
But that safety mechanism failed. Just weeks into her new assignment, her squad leader began making unwanted sexual comments. Then it turned physical when he tried to force himself on her. She was afraid to report it, tried to forget it, but the assault haunted her. In a completely unrelated incident when she was out one night, someone she knew from another base raped her.
“The betrayal issues to this day are still pretty deep,” she said. “You know, I was like, ‘I’m willing to give my life for this guy next to me but how do I know that he’s not going to hurt me?’”
Jessica’s story is not unique. One in three female soldiers will experience sexual assault while serving in the military, compared to one in six women in the civilian world. The Pentagon released a disturbing report Tuesday on sexual abuse in the military, saying that more than 2,900 sexual assaults were reported last year, up nearly 9 percent from the year before. Nearly two-thirds of the cases involved rape or aggravated assault.
Couric asked Michael Dominguez, principal under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, how big a problem sexual assault is in the military.
“Sexual assault injures troops,” he said. “Injures readiness. So regardless of the numbers we have, it is by definition too much.
But how often does it happen?
The Pentagon only started a comprehensive program to track incidents in 2006, and only after Congress mandated it do so.
That year there were 2,974 cases of rape and sexual assault across the services. And of those, only 292 cases resulted in a military trial.
And in 2007 there were even fewer prosecutions.
“Of more than 2,200 servicemen investigated for sexual assault, only 181 were prosecuted?” Couric asked Dominguez.
“Yes, we absolutely have to get better,” he said. “[Defense] Secretary [Robert] Gates himself is driving this initiative this year to improve our ability to investigate, to prosecute and convict. This is not where we want to be.”
And in a majority of cases, the punishment doesn't seem to match the crime. Often most offenders only get a reduction in rank or reduced pay.
“These are major crimes, not misdemeanors,” said Vivian Gembara, a retired member of the Army’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps. “A lot of times what we see in the JAG court is very inexperienced, brand spanking new lawyers being given rape cases, murder cases.”
This month, Defense Secretary Robert Gates called for a military-wide “review of the training and experience' of investigators and prosecutors for sexual assault cases.
For many victims their assault remains a shameful secret. The Pentagon acknowledges that some 80 percent of rapes are never reported - making it the most under-documented crime in the military.
Callie Wight, a counselor for the Veterans Administration said victims haven't come forward for a number of reasons.
“They didn’t report because they didn’t think they’d be believed,” said Wight, a military sexual trauma counselor. “They didn’t report because t hey were ashamed and humiliated and they didn’t want anyone to know what happened to them.”
The military is trying to reduce the stigma through increased awareness, education and guaranteeing confidentiality to victims reporting such crimes. The army has launched a national program called “I Am Strong.” Installations like Fort Irwin in California credit the campaign with driving assault numbers down.
But for soldiers like Jessica any changes came too late.
“I think the worst letdown is people who didn’t believe in me to help get through this and keep me in the army,” she said. “I really wanted to be a good soldier.”
Traumatized by assault and re-traumatized by inaction, she has left the military and is now trying to help other victims.
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Michelle Obama tells how her role as the First Lady has changed her perspective.
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See all 109 CommentsGinger Robertson
PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED ANY HELP WITH STOPPING THE VIOLENCE. I AM IN THIS FOR THE LONG HAUL UNTIL THIS HORRIFIC VIOLENCE STOPS.
PLEASE HELP US BRING ALL OF US TOGETHER, MEN, WOMYN, AND CHILDREN TO PUT A STOP TO MILITARY SEXUALLY/ASSAULTING, MULTILATING OTHER MILITARY PERSONNEL. WE HAVE TO PROTECT OUR OWN. WE HAVE TO PUT A STOP TO THE UNITED STATES MILITARY RAPING OUR OWN MILITARY. I SAY NO MORE RAPE. WE NEED EVERYONE TO JOIN IN UNTIL THIS VIOLENCE STOPS. KEEPING THE VIOLENT PERPERTRATORS OFF THE STREETS AND OUT OF OUR MILITARY. WE NEED TO BE A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR OTHER COUNTRIES. INSTEAD SOME OF OUR MILITARY MEN ARE ASSAULTING GIRLS FROM THE COUNTRIES WE ARE SUPPOSE TO BE FIGHTING FOR.
PLEASE CONTACT ME AT gentleworld@comcast.net.
Sincerely,
VALINE DEMOS
It's been over 15 years since Tailhook; 12 years since numerous drill sergeants were accused (and some found guilty) or raping recruits; 10 years since the Sgt. Major of the Army was accused of sexually harassing 6 women (and found not guilty in a court-martial on all counts except obstruction of justice) and 5 years since the DoD Care for Victims findings were announced--followed by the development of the Sexual Assault and Prevention Program.
Since then, the 'no tolerance' policy has not changed, yet countless numbers of women and men are still being sexually harassed and raped by their peers with very little consequence to the perpetrators but continued blaming of the victims. In 2002, I published the findings of an international study on the topic based on feedback from military victims. The victims comments today are not that different. Sadly, even though there are excellent programs now in place, victim treatment, barriers to reporting, and minimal sentencing of offenders leads me to believe that we still have a long way to go.
If the military really wants to deal with this issue effectively, they will. They did it in the 1970s with racial harassment and they can do it again with this issue. Time will tell. Until then, I encourage victims to seek help. There are good people out there who will believe you. Go to the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator or the VA Sexual Trauma Counselor for vets. We must carry on until this issue is fully addressed, once and for all.
Terri Spahr Nelson, www.tsnelson.com
In my situation, my chain of command dismissed my rape as sexual misconduct on my behalf. Warning me that my "extracurricular activities" will not be tolerated in army aviation, period. As an AH-64 helicopter mechanic, I was confused as to why ALL my supervisors refused to believe me. I went to one of my supervisors room for a "platoon meeting" my first week in Korea. After the meeting, a drunk male soldier grabbed me and more followed. About half the room stayed and the other half left. I was fully aware of what was going on and being overpowered by about 11 men, I couldn't move. I was there being raped over and over again for hours. I couldn't scream loud enough because I was gagged. Every time I managed to remove my gag, and try to scream, I was beaten. I remember everything. Faces. Laughter. Smells. Voices. Alcohol. The smell of the strong pine cleaner they used to scrub me clean of all evidence. The hard liquor that was poured all over me as everyone laughed. The threats I got from everyone if I spoke to anyone about this. NCO's and Officers alike. I was only 18 and just out of basic training/AIT. I reported the rape minutes after they let me go. Not one person believed me. Soldiers in other companies and on other bases called me a ***** and asked when they can have their turn with me. I was alienated and continuously harassed by my fellow soldiers. I begged for a discharge and when I wasn't granted one I worked hard to learn how to do my job, made the terrible mistake of reenlisting. 8 years later this incident still haunts me. On occasion, I see a face or two from that night and try not to relive it. After years of therapy, I still freeze when I see those faces.
In 2001, the U.S. Army failed me. The U.S.Army continues to fail today with prosecuting rapists, sexual assaulters and not to mention sexual harassment acts.
Women in the aviation field and any other male dominant fields beware of your surroundings. The most trustworthy male soldier is no longer that trustworthy friend or soldier if he is consuming alcohol. I made that mistake once.
Bottom line is the Army, no matter how much they say they care and how much they are trying to fix this problem, can't. By joining the Army, you risk becoming that 1-in-3 statistic.
On Friday, March 27, 2009 a disabled woman was in her car at the Millington Navy Base where she has frequent as an Army retiree for years. A Navy base police officer pointed a gun at her. The officer dragged her out of her vehicle, slammed her against the car repeatedly, the woman screamed, ?You are hurting me, I am disabled?, the Officer told her to shut up and bend over. He then pressed her against the trunk of her vehicle, handcuffed her. She was detained for several hours to be release with a seat belt summons. Her car was ramshacked, they opened sealed boxes, and they dismantled everything in her car when they illegally searched it. They violated her. They violated her 4th amendment right when they patted her body down and searched her car. They tortured her when she was beaten up and handcuffed and shoved into a squad car and dragged to an unknown location and placed in a room still handcuffed. All with no probable cause. The police officer that assaulted her said they arrested her for not wearing a seatbelt on a military base. Although this officer took her seatbelt off her before he dragged her out of her vehicle. The woman suffers from post traumatic stress disorder, arthritis, damaged disk in her neck. She also is a survivor of Military Sexual Trauma.
PLEASE HELP GET THIS STORY OUT. ALSO THERE IS A VIDEO OF THE POLICE BRUTALITY. THE VIDEO PROVIDES EVIDENCE THAT CANNOT BE EASILY DISMISSED.
Lynn
P.S. THERE ARE OTHERS ON THIS MILLINGTON NAVAL BASE THAT HAVE BEEN ASSAULTED BY THE POLICE. THIS IS A COMMON OCCURANCE. SOMEONE NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THIS FACILITY
Andi.
18 years old.
The Army.
Germany, sent out to the field for the first time.
The only woman and 1500 men.
I was the Medic, they were Engineers.
Alone, in the dark being watched, only I didn't know
Vilseck, Germany after two weeks without a shower, we were allowed to go to Tent city for 2 days.
Much Celebrating. Much Drinking. After showers the partying started.
I was invited.
A cute boy
Fun
free drinks
more drinks
Something wrong....
Room spinning
Dizzy
can't walk
being carried
pass out
wake up
can't move
tied up
can't talk
gag in mouth
voices
someone on me
wet between the legs
laughter
another body on me
tears
another body
all night
over and over again
how many?
Don't know
too many
over and over again
thrusting
sweaty
pawing
pain
tearing
more laughter
in and out of conscience
how many?
could be twenty
could be a hundred
all ranks
all sizes
all ages
all *******
all thrusting
all sweating
lots of pain
smell of greasy tent
smell of booze
smell of tobacco
smell of man sweat
smell of *****
smell of sex
all thrusting
all groping
all squeezing
all pawing
only one, who when he saw my tears, stopped in his tracks
But he walked out, and another came in to take his place
over and over again
no help
none in sight
all night long
in and out of reality
in and out of dreams
more body's
more men
more thrusting
how many hours?
finally the sweet release of awareness
awakening
naked
in the showers
bruises and blood everywhere
Pain
oh my God the pain
all consuming pain
my clothing in a pile
scrub
scrub
scrub
scrub
scrub
scrub
scrub
scrub
water is cold
scrub some more
scrub
scrub
scrub
scrub
scrub
scrub
scrub
scrub
put on uniform
met at door, by commanding Officer
stern words about MY behavior
told if I talked, it would be MY fault
Threatened with prison for "enticing"
handed orders to be transfered
Told to pack my bags
Transportation waiting
Warned again
If you talk, you die
or worse
watching blindly as the trees roll by
curling up inside of me
hiding the pain
hoping the pain will fade
as the bruises do
can't walk, can't sit, can't take a ****
blaming myself
Others have
so why not me?
Guilt
it weighs on a mind
remembering what was said
silence it is my friend
denial
lock the pain away
never talk they said
never talk I did
The pain it became my friend
To this day, it never ends.
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This is the first time I have EVER written or spoken about that night. The ONLY reason I have after thirty years is, because it is STILL going on! What happened to me, happens to thousands of women in the military ever year!
A male named Officer Born got out of the car, drew his gun on me and began to scream at me. A female officer dressed in fatigues was with him. Officer Born kept screaming at me, ?Show me your hands!? I had my military id in my left hand showing him and my right hand was o my steering wheel. I was in shock at this time. Born began to raise his gun at me and I put both my hands out the window. He then opened my driver-side door, release me from the seatbelt and dragged me out of my car. He threw me against the trunk of my car and pressed my chest into my car. I told him that he was hurting me. I told him that I am disabled and he was hurting my back. He then pressed down on my back even harder. He screamed at me to lean against the car, well he was pressing me so far against the trunk of my car I had no more room to lean forward onto the car. He then handcuffed me and told me to shut up. I asked him what I was being arrested for and he said for disorderly conduct. The female officer dressed in fatigues patted me down.
Other officers took my keys and purse and told me they were going to search my car. I did not give them permission to search my car and they had no warrant. They went through my bags, papers, purse; they opened sealed boxes with private papers in them. They tore open a box with my military C-file in it, and looked through my personal and private information. They disheveled everything in my car. I had money in my purse still in the bank envelope; they took my money out of my pure and put it on the passenger seat. I was put in the back of the squad car with Officer Born and the female. I told them that the handcuffs were too tight, that they were hurting my wrist. I told them that my knees were hurting in the back seat of the squad car because the space was so tight that I had no room to extend my injured knee. Officer Born told me to shut up, stop talking. Even as I was talking to the female officer, he kept telling me to shut up. I felt like I was being raped again. Officer Born hurt my neck, back, rib cage, breast and my knee from his excessive force and brutality.
I was taken to a room in a building. I was still in handcuffs and bent over in pain. Officer Born told me to get out the car. I could not get out of the car without help because I was in so much pain from being brutalized. The female officer offered to help me out the squad car. After the female help me out the squad car, Officer Born put his hands around my right arm very tightly, hurting me and took me to a room with a mirror in it. I was in so much pain I felt I would pass out. I knew I was alone with these people so I cooperated fearing what else they would do to me. Officer Born locked the door behind me with me still in handcuffs. An investigator came in and told me they were going to give me a ticket for the seatbelt. I asked for medical attention. I told him Officer Born hurt me. Medics from the fire department at the base came and examined me. They took my blood pressure and said it was elevated, and they took my pulse and said it was high.
Sgt. Pace came in the room and said I would be getting a ticket for the seatbelt. I explained to him that I was wearing a seatbelt when the officers came and got me out of my vehicle. He said he would look at the video and if he sees I had a seatbelt on he would not give me a ticket. He later came back and said the person that operates the video was not in today, that it will be Tuesday before he can look at the video. The investigator came back in the room and he said, ?If you try to take us to court we are going to win.?
I was then driven by another female officer to my car. She asked me what happened; I told her Officer Born put his gun out on me. She said I should report him and gave me his boss name and number.
I am so afraid, because these police officers know where I am staying and they know my car. I am afraid to stay on the Navy base any longer. I plan to check out immediately. I have not stopped crying from being traumatized by these officers. I went to the emergency room for my injuries.
P.S. I was told they have video and audio of this incident.
Terry
(901) 690-4602
Google "military sexual trauma" and you will see numerous banners for JAG lawyers that will GO TO WAR defending the rapist. They go after the woman viciously.
You go on 24-7 satelite video surveillance, they tap your cell phone, They network with your commanding officers and everyone around you.
Investigations go on for months, even years
gettting "evidence" against the woman.
They say "there has to be a trial", but, the woman is often declared to "mentally unstable" to take part in the trial. No trial, no prosecution.
The women is "not credible" as a witness
They get salaries for that, it is their job to defend THE RAPIST.
After being subjected to all of that for NO JUSTICE,
Allowing known rapists to go free
The woman is subjected to more degradation.
VA TREATMENT
The VA gets funding for drugging and hospitalizing women that can't take sexual abuse anymore.
BILLIONS in VA FUNDING for that. BILLIONS UPON BILLIONS.
They routinely drug you. Involuntary committement, without due process, is called "INTERVENTION" . All it takes it the request of a husband or family member.
The VA gets funding for drugging you and keeping you in a rubber room. For complaining of sexual abuse.
All VA "sexual trauma counselors" will tell you the same thing "YOU HAVE TO GET ON WITH YOUR LIFE"
That is their job. They get paid for that.
AND NOTHING ANYONE WILL DO ABOUT A RAPIST other than continue to abuse the woman.
Our military has destroyed other countries for much less.
We will not tolerate that treatment of MUSLIM women, but we actually PAY the salaries of government employees that will abuse, harass, and devastate any woman that has been sexually assaulted.
"Get on with your life" ladies
I served in the Women's Army Corps prior to the WAC Colors being retired in 1977. I was at Fort McClellan, AL during that ceremony. I served from 1976 through the unjust end of my career in 2003, 26 years, 6 months, 23 days for pay, and nearly 14 years on active duty, but my career was railroaded. You see, I served as the Equal Opportunity/Equal Employment Oficer, trained and hired as Adjunct faculty by the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institutes. The military has had stats on this for years. Most of it stuffed along with those of us who would say it out loud and denouce it.
They "KILL THE MESSENGER", I was the messenger from September 1983 through 2003. When soldiers know that their careers and reputations will be called into question, they will be further victimized, WHO WOULD WANT TO TELL?
I served as Equal Opportunity/Equal Employment Officer in two state National Guards, The Departments of the U.S. Army and Air Force. I had to hear these cries for help, most of whom refused to allow me to go public with their complaints. However, I know for a fact that anonymous EO Climate profiles documented the statistics, but it's been "stuffed", swept under the carpet, the victims smeared as either as "***** and/or nuts." Neither which is true for most of us even though after day after day of harassment, the psychological warfare often makes some question their sanity and ask how could this be happening to them.
I am a social scientist by education with a BA, MA, Ph.D.(ABD) in counseling psychology. I had the MA when I received my officer commission and completed course written and oral exams on my Ph.D. and am a candidate. So I didn't just fall off the turnip truck yesterday. If they were able to end my career after over 2 decades of above average Officer Evaluations, then they can end any females they wish to. There is s blatant double standard and there's proof out there. The remaider of my life will be proving my stories and those of other women who are serving or who have served with Honor. I was Honorably discharged, 2 just short of being able to retire from active duty and a little over 6 years shy of my mandatory retirement date, March 2009!
I served with Honor, Dignity and I would serve our great nation again and I would once agian put my evaluations, promotions and utimately my career on the line for what is just and right for each and every military member who raises their hand and take an oath, dedication everything, up to and including giving our lives for the country we love so dearly. I am a "Proud woman Veteran,."
The system also practices "killing the messenger". Being the EO/EEO Officer and Adjunct Faculty at the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute, certified instructor in the Prevention of Discriminatory Harassment, I was the "messenger!" Then finally in the end, my career was ended after I was victimized by a supervior, my immediate rating officer. He was promoted during the time I had an active complaint at the National Guard Bureau. He and his associates threatened to end my career. I was continuously harassed, became ill both physically and emotionally, and falsely accused of "substandard performance" during my illness and railroaded off of active duty. My life has been totally devastated. I was unable to get my Veteran's benefits, medical review in 2007 and a small compensation of a little over $1400 a month in 2008. I was discharged, "Honorably" in 2008,
I believe my story to be more the norm and I could have told you these stats. The Army had them but stuffed them. An employer told me that he would only hire me on a probatioary contract because of my near 3 decades in the military, because he didn't trust the military because of all of their cover-ups.
My stories are many and I intend to have them heard. Another former EO Officer and I intend to write a book, but her words were, "If we told the truth, no one would believe us." The stories are horrible, but all are true. Just like this soldier, where is our justice. The stories are ********* and most women, now out, may be willing to tell theirs. I'm hoping to search for these women and make their stories known.
I was silenced and black-listed to potential employers, etc. after over 24 years of "above average Officer Evaluation, my files were papered with erroneous documents. My referred or derrogatory evaluations were completed by the men who harassed me. They were believed even though the retaliation was blatant. I loved the military and I love my country with all of my heart and soul. But no one's daughter, spouse, sister, mother, etc., should have to go through this in our great nation. Again, I was and AM ONLY THE MESSENGER!
Pure and simple, rape is rape. Think about this word and think about the very act of violence involved in this kind of assault. Rape victims suffer a lifetime, it's not something that goes away with time and honestly, a rapists face never changes for the victim.
What is written in the military and what actually happens to a soldier who commits the violent act of rape are two totally different things. What I have seen is the military wants this issue (rape) to just go away. They don't want to convict these soldiers, and for some crazy reason they think a reprimand will suffice.
As a spouse of a retired CSM and the mother of 4 military service members, I never dreamed my daughter would be raped while in the military, and I sure never dreamed that she would be raped by a soldier she worked with; especially since she served as an MP and in the MPI. The soldier that raped her is also an MP. Unfortunately, this man was not convicted and he returned to his MP job in the same building where my daughter works. Don't tell me she should just move on - she's the vicitm and has continually been re-victimized over and over again during this whole process.
Get it through your heads men, rape is rape. It is not an act of loving friendship. It's a horrific, terrifying, and inexplicable crime against a woman. Don't make light of such a crime, it could be your daughter, your wife, your mother - they are not immune to this because they are civilians; but unfortunately, their chances are greatly increased if they are in the military.
Katie Couric, thank you for taking a look at this issue. I hope you will continue to do so in the future. The only way this problem will continue to be addressed by the military and the only way more convictions will be sought is if this issue stays in the public eye through the media.
I cannot go into the story of my assault because it is too painful---even after all of these years. What I do want to point out though, sexual assault, rape, is not a new event in the military....it has been an ongoing problem for a long, long time....not only during times of war, but also during times of peace. I applaud Katie Couric for bring this to the public, but too much, too little, too late.
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