On 3 December 2015, Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced that all branches of the military must open all combat roles to women within one year. This brings new urgency to the issue of rampant sexual assault and harassment in the U.S. military. Roughly 19,000 U.S. servicemen and servicewomen were sexually assaulted or raped last year while serving their country - that is approximately 52 cases per day. Their assailants by-and-large were other service members. Although roughly 80% of cases go unreported, those who do report often face retaliation from their units or commanding officers. Of those who report, only 8% of sexual assault accusations reach a court-marital hearing, and only 5% result in conviction. These men and women who survive
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In an ideal investigation, a victim would feel at least some appeasement of these core concerns from investigators and counselors. The Victims’ Protection Act does guarantee all service members access to a Special Victims Counselor in the event of assault, allows victims to decide whether they would prefer their cases prosecuted in military or civilian courts, and prevents commanders from overturning sex crimes convictions. While these reforms were meant to increase victims’ autonomy, appreciation, and status when a sex crime is reported, survivor advocacy groups assert that these reforms do not go fare enough. Therefore there is disaffiliation between these groups and some senators that would seek to aid them. A victim of military sexual assault, Michael Matthews, offered the candid-yet-tragic, “You know McCaskill 's bill ain 't gonna work because the Pentagon likes her bill." Additionally, any affective reform must incorporate appreciation of the unique challenges faced by male survivors of military sexual assault, and Veterans Affairs (VA) health benefits should incorporate injuries and mental illnesses sustained because of Military Sexual Trauma (MST), the VA term for military sexual assault, into possible disability benefits. Being denied VA benefits further decreases the status and appreciation of MST victims and in many cases leads to a phenomenon called
In an ideal investigation, a victim would feel at least some appeasement of these core concerns from investigators and counselors. The Victims’ Protection Act does guarantee all service members access to a Special Victims Counselor in the event of assault, allows victims to decide whether they would prefer their cases prosecuted in military or civilian courts, and prevents commanders from overturning sex crimes convictions. While these reforms were meant to increase victims’ autonomy, appreciation, and status when a sex crime is reported, survivor advocacy groups assert that these reforms do not go fare enough. Therefore there is disaffiliation between these groups and some senators that would seek to aid them. A victim of military sexual assault, Michael Matthews, offered the candid-yet-tragic, “You know McCaskill 's bill ain 't gonna work because the Pentagon likes her bill." Additionally, any affective reform must incorporate appreciation of the unique challenges faced by male survivors of military sexual assault, and Veterans Affairs (VA) health benefits should incorporate injuries and mental illnesses sustained because of Military Sexual Trauma (MST), the VA term for military sexual assault, into possible disability benefits. Being denied VA benefits further decreases the status and appreciation of MST victims and in many cases leads to a phenomenon called