Military | 03/18/2009 10:00 am

Report: 1-in-3 Female Soldiers Face Sexual Assault or Rape (Video)

By The Staff at wowOwow.com

Jessica was one of three active-duty women working with an Apache helicopter maintenance crew of 60 men in South Korea when she was raped. Not only was she raped by someone from another military base, but her squad leader also tried to force himself on her.

"The betrayal issues to this day are still pretty deep," Jessica told CBS News’ Katie Couric. "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?’"

Sad to say, there are many more similar stories. A Pentagon report released Tuesday claims one in three women soldiers will be victims of some sort of sexual assault during their service, compared to one in six women civilians. In fiscal 2008, 2,923 sexual assaults were reported — an 8 percent spike over the prior year; 63 percent were rapes or aggravated assaults. Also, 251 incidents occurred in combat areas, with 141 in Iraq and 22 in Afghanistan — a 26 percent increase from fiscal 2007.

Defense officials say the numbers don’t necessarily mean more rapes are occurring, but that more victims are coming forward to report them, even though the numbers still show victims are fearful of coming forward.

"Given the fear and stigma associated with the crime, sexual assault remains one of our nation’s most under-reported crimes in both the military and civilian community," said Dr. Kaye Whitley, the director of the Defense Department’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office. "The increase of reports means the department’s policy of getting victims to come forward is making a difference."

Some women in Congress say this report is just further proof that the military doesn’t have a good grasp of the situation.

"We’re far from ‘Mission Accomplished,’" said Rep. Jane Harman, D-CA, reports The Army Times. "Military women are more likely to be raped by a fellow soldier than killed by enemy fire in Iraq."

Rep. Louis Slaughter, D-NY, reintroduced the Military Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Act in January to set up an office of Victims Advocate within the Defense Department and ensure victims are protected. She said:

How many more of our brave women and men in uniform must experience sexual assault before we truly address this issue? It is unconscionable that our soldiers are too often victimized twice — first by their perpetrator, then again by the military’s lack of an appropriate and compassionate response. It’s one thing to serve your country and another thing to be assaulted by a fellow soldier, especially in circumstances where it’s someone of a higher rank.

Watch Katie Couric’s interview with Jessica below:

15 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

This statistic must have the parents and spouses of female soldiers very upset. I would think this stat alone would be a loophole to allow any woman soldier to request an honorable discharge from the military.

By DeBúrca obj on 03/18/2009 10:12 am

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You’d think that would be enough but obvious not. I wonder went the military will wake up and face this problem like a man? What will it take?

By Grande Camper on 03/18/2009 10:21 am

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There are 10’s of thousands of good men in the armed services but there are also quite a few imbeciles and outright felons. The armed services need to thoroughly psychologically test incoming recruits in order to weed out the bad. And the ones who do rape need long, very long prison terms. Also I think Rep. Slaughter is on the right track with his congressional act that will open the doors to those women who are abused and raped so that necessary immediate help will be available to them. Also commanders in the field, and I’m speaking of company commanders especially, need counseling and new procedures in how to deal with rape and abuse victims—I’ve read that victims are not always at times accorded the belief and help they require from company commanders; then maybe these enlisted women will be more forthcoming in accusing and testifying against the monsters who attack them.

By f p on 03/18/2009 10:24 am

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I see. The men are afraid of having a homosexual in the same military, who may look at them in the shower, so everyone walks on eggs for them, making anyone who says "gay" an outlaw …. but raping women in the military doesn’t even get a raised eyebrow? What a bunch of lunatics. FIX THIS ALREADY!!

By rocky rocky on 03/18/2009 10:33 am

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Succinct and to the point as usual Rocky :-)

By f p on 03/18/2009 10:36 am

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Hey, Beau. (I like the moniker.) Thank you for the kind words.

By rocky rocky on 03/18/2009 11:01 am

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You’re welcome :-)

By f p on 03/18/2009 11:05 am

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Too right rocky rocky!

By Slinky Binx on 03/18/2009 12:01 pm

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Female soldiers have been reporting rape and sexual molestation for years. Their cries have always fallen on death ears. They have been victimized by their superiors and their careers threatened. The armed services is very classist, sexist, ageist and racist . Women soldiers live in fear of retaliation. Imagine having to fight along side your attacker! Female soldiers have witnessed civilain rapes and murders. They have been threatened and murdered to keep them quiet. The armed forces will do anything to avoid having its reputation tarnished even murder.

By L. C. on 03/18/2009 11:09 am

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I have spoken of this situation before when the discussions of gays in the military has come up, but it has been ignored as if it did not exist. This is a terrible problem which is often overlooked by those in charge,. and often the female gets accused of asking for it. My husband, when he was on active duty, did not like the idea of the men and women working in such close contact because of reasons like this. The caliber of men in a citizen military is not often the best. You get many men with lower moral standards, as they have lowered the requirments for enlisting and take undereducated men and men with certain criminal records that are overlooked. I am glad this is finally being addressed, as this is something that should never have been allowed to happen. Unfortunately it happens at our military academys too, so education doesn’t even stop it from happening.

By Lizzie R. on 03/18/2009 12:00 pm

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Actually, more men are sexually assaulted by heterosexual males than women. Since the total numbers of men far exceed the number of women, the lower percentage of male on male rapes outnumber the numbers of women raped (with a much lower population and much higher percentage of rape.

Ok, so if you know anyone, Active Duty or Veteran who has been assaulted (from dirty jokes to rape) and need help, have them contact vetwow.com, and we can walk them through the process of getting free treatment and care for Military Sexual Trauma MST.

I have been working as a volunteer since 1995 to help women and men with the issues surrounding MST, and my assistant, Laura was the one that testified in Congress which created this report.

You can also reach me through the website.

Susan Avila-Smith

By Susan Avila-Smith on 03/18/2009 3:38 pm

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well, whether male or female, I think that if a violation is there, it should be handled swiftly and to make an example of. These people are supposed to go out in a war environment and take a life and protect their squad?

If they are sexually assaulting then obviously they aren’t military material and should be dishonorably discharged and charged just like any other criminal for the crime. Otherwise, its no better than those on the streets who go looting in time of turmoil.

Both are wrong, and both should be punished.

By Jean How on 03/19/2009 8:09 am

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I am a disabled female veteran who served USMC1966-67 and service connected for PTSD/depression for sexual assault and rape in the service. I have worked been involved in veteran groups since 1990 including Oregon State Employment Women Veterans Conferences in 1990, 1991, and 1992 plus National Women’s Veteran Conferences in 1991 being state representative for Oregon. I have dealt a long time with women veterans and currently run a private women veteran’s site since 2000 as well as life member of American Legion and Disabled Veterans. I can tell you I have heard (and worked with) many women veterans who have suffered from sexual harassment, assault and rape in the service. Congress has investigated sexual assault in the military since, at least, 1980, with a huge investigation in 1990-1991 after Tailhook. it seems that this problem has not been corrected or stopped and we continue to have women who are traumatized in the service. I am truly saddened that more women are traumatized in the line of serving their country. We need others to step forward and help us try to stop these assaults and also to insure that women get the help that they need. Thank you, Lynda

By Lynda Dokken on 03/23/2009 7:06 am

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Good Morning! My name is Michelle and I am a rape survivor fighting nationwide for my new law where perpetrators of rape, child molestation, and adult molestation pay lifetime longterm care for victims. I walked my streets raising 536 petitions and took them Senator where I then met up with the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault. I lobbied and testified and it became a law in the State of Illinois. It did not help me it is my gift to victims nationwide so they do not end up like me. My law may help you! I fell from middle class to poverty for medications for life, hearing aides for life from brutal beatings to my head before and during rape. I was kidnapped walking home and he drove me away and I was raped three times. I also had hospitalization, counseling costs, pschy. costs for medicines etc. So I decided I did not not want other victims to fall where I have. I contacted solo all coaltions against sexual and domestic violence to tell them about my new rape law existing in Illinois. They are just getting ready to name it after me as The Michelle Eppel law so it easier for States to adopt into their State. I will be flying out to kentucky to speak at a convention and hopefully get the law done there. You can get contact numbers for fax of law and other contacts needed and my news interviews testifying for new name of existing law….. You can follow www.ilga.gov under first link previous assembly click in sb 1429 in search bos there it is. I also have a beginner book for victims…. my web page is www.ladydew.com please stop by and please leave a post….. You can email on web site as well. God Bless and may law get to your State as I work with Coalitions across the nationwide solo as a victim and survivor of rape! Michelle

By michelle eppel on 03/23/2009 8:27 am

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I am very upset. I had a daughter in the miltary who had a date rape drug slipped into her drink by a fellow soldier. He sexually molested her and was about to do worse when a fellow soldier walked in on them.

Her sergeant told her she had enough evidence to take him to military court and encouraged to. Her unit went on to Iraq without her so she could get justice. The military court let him go, as he was leaving he turned around and smiled at her. SO MUCH FOR JUSTICE.

Her only grandfather died- she had to miss his funeral because she had to testify- now she goes to Iraq not only grieving for her grandfather but knowing that this boy got away with molesting her.

SO MUCH FOR JUSTICE

By Deborah Jaramillo on 09/02/2009 7:09 pm