Military Sexual Trauma

Properly Addressing Sexual Assault in the Military

Rep. Niki Tsongas | Posted 05.29.2012

Read More: Sexual Assault in Military, Sexual Assault Military, Military Sexual Trauma, Military Sexual Assaults, Politics News
Rep. Niki Tsongas

Retaliatory gestures and intimidation techniques have for years had a chilling effect on the willingness of victims of sexual assault in the military to come forward.

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Male Rape in the Military: Michael's Story

Nancy Parrish | Posted 05.29.2012

Read More: US Military, Military Sexual Trauma, US Air Force, Military Rape, Rape, Sexual Assault, Military Sexual Assaults, Crime News
Nancy Parrish

The culture of tolerance for sexual assault and rape is pervasive in the military, and has been for decades. The military has become, essentially, a safe haven for serial rapists.

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Suing the Department of Defense for Dereliction of Its Duty

Nancy Parrish | Posted 04.23.2012

Read More: Susan Burke, US Military, Rape, Pentagon, Military Sexual Trauma, Military, Leon Panetta, Department of Defense, Tailhook, Rape in the Military, Sexual Assault in the Military, Sexual Assault, West Point, Politics News
Nancy Parrish

We would like to believe that this most recent in a series of pledges of "zero tolerance" will make a difference. However, we would only know the Pentagon is serious and effective when the careers of those senior commanders who fail to provide positive leadership and take effective action are ended.

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The Pentagon Is Camouflaging the Truth About Rape in the Military

Nancy Parrish | Posted 04.20.2012

Read More: Pentagon, Rape in the Military, Military Sexual Trauma, US Military, Department of Defense, Rape, Lean Panetta, Mst, Military, Sexual Assault in the Military, Sexual Assault, Politics News
Nancy Parrish

America's troops deserve better than spin and half-hearted actions that fail to address core problems. They deserve real action. That means no longer hiding behind manipulated statistics and fundamentally reforming the way the military handles sexual assault and rape.

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Demanding Accessibility To Documents Regarding Military Sexual Violence

Rachel Natelson | Posted 05.01.2012

Read More: Civil Liberties, Women's Rights, US Military, Violence Against Women, Military Sexual Trauma, Sexual Harassment, Military Sexual Assaults, Ptsd, Women in the Military, Sexual Assault, Women Veterans, Civil Rights, Veterans, Impact News
Rachel Natelson

In the government's view, the public needn't concern itself with the ugly details of the epidemic of sexual violence in the military.

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Military Sexual Abuse Can't Be Ignored

Joseph Bobrow | Posted 04.01.2012

Read More: Sundance Film Festival, Invisible Injuries, Rape, Trauma, Leon Panetta, Secretary of Defense, Military Sexual Trauma, Women Veterans, The Invisible War, Female Veterans, Veterans, Impact News
Joseph Bobrow

What women veterans need is fundamental respect, recognition, and understanding of the unique stressors of their service experience. They need humane, integrative treatment, and some programming solely with and for their fellow women veterans.

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Cassaundra StJohn: Helping Female Vets to Move Forward

Marcia G. Yerman | Posted 01.14.2012

Read More: GI Bill, Women Veterans, Veterans Affairs, Military Sexual Trauma, Rape, Veterans, Veterans Day 2011, Tbi, Iraq, Umemployed Vets, Readjustment to Civilian Life, Cassaundra StJohn, Air Force, Military Policy, Ptsd, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, Vietnam, Sexual Harassment, F7 Group, Homelss Female Veterans, Afghanistan, Mst, Impact News
Marcia G. Yerman

Realizing that they were many resources for men who had served -- but not for women -- StJohn had an epiphany. She asked herself, "Why aren't I doing this?" That was the beginning of F7 Group.

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Our Brave Women

Sen. Claire McCaskill | Posted 06.14.2011

Read More: U.S. Senate, Military Sexual Trauma, Amy Klobuchar, Claire McCaskill, Women Veterans, Sexual Assault in Military, Sexual Assault, Military Sexual Assaults, Politics News
Sen. Claire McCaskill

Last year the Department of Defense recorded over 3,000 reports of sexual assault across the U.S. Armed Forces. And while this issue affects both male and female servicemembers, it is women who face elevated risks.

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There's No Quick Fix For Veterans

Maggie Martin | Posted 06.13.2011

Read More: Female Veterans, Military Sexual Trauma, Maggie Martin, Army, Women Veterans, Military Families, Veterans, Impact News
Maggie Martin

It is far easier to say our troops are heroes than it is to have an honest dialog about what service means and what commitment we as a nation have to those who fight in our name.

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Andrea Stone

Bill Offers Expanded Legal Protections To Victims Of Military Sexual Assault

HuffingtonPost.com | Andrea Stone | Posted 06.12.2011

Read More: House of Representatives, Military Sexual Trauma, Military, Niki Tsongas, Politics News

WASHINGTON -- Lawmakers will introduce a bipartisan bill Wednesday that for the first time would provide expanded legal rights and protections for ser...

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It Is Time to Heal America's Civilian-Military Divide

Christine Pelosi | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: John McCain, Democratic Congress, Military Sexual Trauma, Memorial Day, Veterans Administration, Veterans; Veterans Day; Military, Obama, Mike Mullen, Post-911 GI Bill, Lt. Dan Choi, Hire Act, Women Veterans, Rural Veterans, Civilian, Biden, Homeless Veterans, Ptsd, Mst, Patrick Murphy, Politics News
Christine Pelosi

A recent survey shows 90% of military families believe that civilian communities do not understand their needs nor support the values and dignity that come with a military career. Short of returning to a draft, what is to be done?

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Believing Anita... and our Servicewomen

Rachel Natelson | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Women's Rights, US Military, Violence Against Women, Military Sexual Trauma, Virginia Thomas, Anita Hill, Sexual Assault, Civil Rights, Repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell, Clarence Thomas, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Gays in the Military, Gender Equality, Sexual Harassment, Military Sexual Assaults, Women and Politics, Politics News
Rachel Natelson

Like many civil rights advocates, I have been sorely tempted to celebrate the death--once lingering but now tantalizingly imminent--of the military's ...

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The Long Shelf of War

Brigid Brett | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Iraq War, Pain, Female Veterans, Military Sexual Trauma, Books, Vietnam War, Traumatic Brain Injury, Ptsd, Female Soldiers, Poetry, Afghanistan War, Books News
Brigid Brett

My collection of war books is growing. They spread out on the long shelf behind my dining room table, sandwiched between Alice in Wonderland and the poetry of Robert Frost.

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Separate, Unequal, and Unrecognized

Rachel Natelson | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Women's Rights, Department of Veterans Affairs, Violence Against Women, Military Sexual Trauma, Veterans Benefits, Homelessness, Homeless Veterans, Women's Health, Sexual Harassment, Military Sexual Assaults, Ptsd, Women Veterans, Sexual Assault, Eric Shinseki, Veterans, Impact News
Rachel Natelson

Following the release of regulations designed to simplify the process by which veterans with PTSD can access benefits, advocates have clamored to declare victory in a battle against a system notorious for resisting change.

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Responding to Military Sexual Trauma - Still A Long Way to Go

Marcia G. Yerman | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: The Defense STRONG Act, Sen. John Kerry, Restricted Reporting, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Kay Whitley, Iraq, Anuradha K. Bhagwati, Veteran?S Administration, Swan, Ptsd, Politics, Vetwow, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, Homeless Veterans, John Hall, SAPRO, Service Women?S Action Network, Joy J. Ilem, Military Sexual Trauma, Memorial Day, Victim Reporting Preference Statement DD From 2910, StopMilitaryRape.Org, H.R. 5136, Michael Michaud, Rape, Women Veterans, MilitarySexualTrauma.Org, Veteran?S Issues, Disabled American Veterans, Unrestricted Reporting, Rainn, Afghanistan, Helen Benedict, Phyllis E. Greenberger, Rep. Nicki Tsongas, Politics News
Marcia G. Yerman

May 30th is Military Sexual Trauma Awareness Day. The issue is starting to get more traction in terms of visibility, Congressional hearings, and ackn...

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Jesus Did Not Say 'Forgive and Forget'

Anne Dilenschneider | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Hajji, Grandmothers, Sexual Abuse, Repentance, Ptsd, Remorse, Veterans, Kbr, Asociación Madres De Plaza De Mayo, Gacaca Court, Repent, Truth and Justice, Argentina, Sexual Harassment, Plaza De Mayo, Reconciliation, Mst, Campus Rape Victims, Commander Rape, Jesus, Sandnigger, Jamie Leigh Jones, Halliburton, Rape in the Military, Forgive, Atonement, Military Sexual Trauma, Forgiveness, Haji, Camel Jockey, Reparation, Rebuke, Forgive and Forget, Speak Up, Raghead, Servicewomen, Restitution, Domestic Violence, Rwanda, Christianity, What Are the 7 Deadly Sins in Order, Jesus News, Seven Deadly Sins, What Are the Seven Deadly Sins, Forgiveness How to Forgive, Person Jesus Didn't Forgive, Religion News
Anne Dilenschneider

According to the VA, at least 30% of American servicewomen (and many men) have diagnosed cases of Military Sexual Trauma, a form of PTSD. The perpetrators are usually servicemen and commanders.

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Military Sexual Trauma - Seeking Justice

Marcia G. Yerman | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Veterans for Peace, Department of Veterans Affairs, Kira Mountjoy-Pepka, Rape, Military Sexual Trauma, Veteran's Administration, Ann Wright, Grace After Fire, Service Women;s Action Network, Coalition Against Sexual Assault in the Military Services, Rotc, Code Pink, Pack Parachute Charity, Ptsd, Afghanistan War, Pascale Bourgaux, Veteran's Day, Military, Mercedes Gallego, Eve Ensler, Iraq War, Tina Priest, Rape in the Ranks, Fort Bragg, Disable Amercian Veterans, Staff Sergeant Sandra Lee, Military Rape Awareness Wekk, U.S. Army, Vva, Vetwow, Impact News
Marcia G. Yerman

While embedded with Marines during the invasion of Iraq, journalist Mercedes Gallego was cautioned that it was not safe to be alone. The reason, the servicewomen explained, was fear of being raped.

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Athena Crossing the Potomac

Rachel Natelson | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Sikh, Women's Rights, Department of Veterans Affairs, US Military, Military Sexual Trauma, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Violence Against Women, Sexual Assault, Veterans, Emergency Contraception, Gays in the Military, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Iraq Veterans, Homeless Veterans, Homelessness, Military Sexual Assaults, Women and Politics, Politics News
Rachel Natelson

Many figures have decried the inequity of "Don't Ask Don't Tell," the president and Congress to repeal the law. However, one community has remained resolutely silent: national veterans service organizations.

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Memorial Day 2009 - A Look at Women in the Military

Marcia G. Yerman | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Pentagon, Department of Veterans Affairs, Military Sexual Trauma, US Soldiers, Memorial Day, Ann Wright, Timothy J. Walz, Women in Afghanistan, Women in Iraq, Women in the Military, Women Veterans, Veterans, Gays in the Military, Iraq Veterans, Military, Service Women's Action Network, Homeless Veterans, Military Sexual Assaults, Helen Benedict, Swan, Mst, Politics News
Marcia G. Yerman

Hopefully, in between the barbecues and the parades, our citizens will reflect on both the physical and emotional challenges that our service women have -- and continue -- to face.

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