Abstract
Miliary sexual trauma (MST) is a pervasive issue throughout the US military. In this chapter, definitions of types of MST (i.e., sexual assault, sexual harassment, and sexual hazing) were discussed along with prevalence rates. Survivors of military sexual violence face challenges unlike those in civilian life, including revictimization, difficulty reporting, repeated exposure to their abuser, and feelings of helplessness. These factors are unique to military culture due to the commitment to service, rank, and formality required in service. Health consequences and outcomes of MST in the military were also examined in depth. Continued research will help understand the continued challenges that emerge and how to best improve the treatment and evaluation of MST.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
This brief case vignette has been created to help the readers understand how average cases progress. It is factious but has been gathered from the author’s observations working with victims of military sexual assault. Victims’ stories read much like the case provided; however, no confidential information was used within the chapter.
References
32 CFR 105.8 – Reporting options and Sexual Assault Reporting Procedures. (2016). Retrieved from https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/32/105.8
Calhoun, P. S., Schry, A. R., Dennis, P. A., Wagner, H. R., Kimbrel, N. A., Bastian, L. A., Beckham, J. C., Kudler, H., & Straits-Tröster, K. (2018). The association between military sexual trauma and use of VA and non-VA health care services among female veterans with military service in Iraq or Afghanistan. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 33(15), 2439–2464. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260515625909
Collette, T. L., Esenwein, S. V., Sprague-Jones, J., Moore, K. E., & Sterling, E. (2022). Incidence rates of emotional, sexual, and physical abuse in active duty military service members, 1997–2015. Aggression and Violent Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2022.101745
Department of Defense. (2019, May 2). DOD sexual assault prevention and response: What you need to know. https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Article/Article/1831742/dod-sexual-assault-prevention-and-response-what-you-need-to-know/
Department of Defense. (2021, November). Sexual assault prevention and response: Program procedures (Policy Brief No. 6495.01). Department of Defense, United States of America. https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodd/649501p.pdf
Disabled American Veteran. (2022, July 6). Military sexual trauma – MST. DAV. https://www.dav.org/veterans/resources/military-sexual-trauma-mst/#:~:text=How%20common%3F,What%20are%20the%20associated%20symptoms%3F
Fisher, D. (2020, July 15). New review finds a ‘code of silence’ problems dooming plan to eliminate sexual violence in our military. New Zealand Herald. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/new-review-finds-a-code-of-silence-among-the-problems-dooming-plan-to-eliminate-sexual-violence-in-our-military/7AVTOA25GXOUAKLKKPBTHL5MUE/
Forkus, S. R., Weiss, N. H., Goncharenko, S., Mammay, J., Church, M., & Contractor, A. A. (2021). Military sexual trauma and risky behaviors: A review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 22(4), 976–993. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838019897338
Gilbred, K. (2017, July). Challenging military sexual violence. http://nlgmltf.org/military-law-library/publications/memos/military-sexual-violence/
Groah, J. S. (2005). Treatment of fourth class midship- men: Hazing and its impact on academic and military performance; and psychological and physical health. Naval Postgraduate School.
Holder, N., Maguen, S., Holliday, R., Vogt, D., Bernhard, P. A., Hoffmire, C. A., Blosnich, J. R., & Schneiderman, A. I. (2022). Psychosocial outcomes among veteran and non-veteran survivors of sexual assault. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605221090598
Hoyt, T., Klosterman Rielage, J., & Williams, J. F. (2011). Military sexual trauma in men: A review of reported rates. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 12(3), 244–260. https://doi.org/10.1080/15299732.2011.542612
Kelly, U., Skelton, K., Patel, M., & Bradley, B. (2011). More than military sexual trauma: Interpersonal violence, PTSD, and mental health in women veterans. Research in Nursing & Health, 34, 457–467. https://doi.org/10.1002/nur.20453
Kimerling, R., Makin-Byrd, K., Louzon, S., Ignacio, R. V., & McCarthy, J. F. (2016). Military sexual trauma and suicide mortality. American Journal of Prevalent Medicine, 50(6), 684–691. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2015.10.019
Lindeman, T. (2022, June 1). Women in Canada’s military face greater harm from comrades than enemy, says judge. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/01/canadian-armed-forces-louise-arbour-report
McCall-Hosenfeld, J. S., Liebschutz, J. M., Spiro, A., & Seaver, M. R. (2009). Sexual assault in the military and its impact of sexual satisfaction in women veterans: A proposed model. Journal of Women’s Health, 18(6), 901–909. https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2008.0987
Mengeling, M. A., Booth, B. M., Torner, J. C., & Salder, A. G. (2014). Reporting sexual assault in the military: Who reports and why most servicewomen don’t. American Journal of Preventative Medicine, 47(1), 17–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2014.03.001
Moore, B. A., Collette, T. L., & Judkins, J. L. (2022). Identity dissonance in recently separated military veterans. In R. Gurang (Ed.), Routledge resources online: Psychology in the real world (Vol. 1). Routledge.
Morgan, L. (2020). Understanding sexual offences in UK military and veteran populations: Delineating the offences and setting research priorities. BMJ Military Health, 168, 146–149. http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8422-9571
My Army Benefits. (2021, September 20). Sexual harassment assault response and prevention (SHARP). https://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/Benefit-Library/Federal-Benefits/SexualHarassment-Assault-Response-and-Prevention-(SHARP)?serv=122
Myers, M. (2017, August 07). Former soldiers with service-connected sexual trauma can apply for discharge upgrades. https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2017/02/03/former-soldiers-with-service-connected-sexual-trauma-can-apply-for-discharge-upgrades/
Northcut, T. B., & Kienow, A. (2014). The trauma trifecta of military sexual trauma: A case study illustrating the integration of mind and body in clinical work with survivors of MST. Clinical Social Work Journal, 42(3), 247–259.
Pershing, J. L. (2006). Men and women’s experiences with hazing in a male- dominated elite military institution. Men and Masculinities, 8(4), 470–492. https://doi.org/10.1177/1097184X05277411
Protect Our Defenders. (2021, May). Facts on United States military sexual violence. Protect Our Defenders. https://www.protectourdefenders.com/factsheet/.
Pulverman, C. S., Christy, A. Y., & Kelly, U. A. (2019). Military sexual trauma and sexual health in women veterans: A systematic review. Sexual Medicine Reviews, 7(3), 393–407. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sxmr.2019.03.002
Schmid, M. N. (2010). Combating different enemy: Proposals to change the culture of sexual assault in the military. Villanova Law Review, 55(2), 475–508.
Secretary of Defense. (2022, February 15). Actions to address and prevent sexual assault at military service academies. United States Department of Defense. https://www.sapr.mil/sites/default/files/public/docs/reports/MSA/DoD_Actions_to_Address_Memorandum_to_the_Military_Departments_MSA_APY20-21.pdf
Shane, L. (2022, January 26). Sexual harassment in the military now a crime under Biden. Military Times. https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2022/01/26/sexual-harassment-in-the-military-now-a-crime-under-biden-order/
Sierra, G. (Host). (2021, September 30- present). Sexual assault in the military [Audio podcast]. Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/sexual-assault-in-the-us-military
Suris, A., & Lind, L. (2008). Military sexual trauma: A review of prevalence and associated health consequences in veterans. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 9(4), 250–269. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838008324419
United States Department of Veterans Affairs. (2019, January 7). MST-related treatment and support resources for veterans. https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/msthome/treatment.asp
United States Military Academy West Point. (2022). Sexual harassment. https://www.westpoint.edu/about/west-point-staff/SHARP/sexual-harassment
Weener Moyer, M. (2021, October 11). ‘A poison in the system’: The epidemic of military sexual assault. New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/03/magazine/military-sexual-assault.html
Wilson, L. C. (2018). The prevalence of military sexual trauma: A meta-analysis. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 19(5), 584–597. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838016683459
Wood, E. J., & Toppelberg, N. (2017). The persistence of sexual assault within the US military. Journal of Peace Research, 54(5), 620–633. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022343317720487
Wyndham, S. (2020, July 27). Taking aim at military sexual violence. The University of Sydney. https://www.sydney.edu.au/arts/news-and-events/news/2020/07/27/taking-aim-military-sexual-violence.html
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Baker, M.T. et al. (2023). Military Sexual Violence: Sexual Assault, Sexual Harassment, and Sexual Hazing. In: Violence in the Military. SpringerBriefs in Psychology(). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-26883-0_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-26883-0_3
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-26882-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-26883-0
eBook Packages: Behavioral Science and PsychologyBehavioral Science and Psychology (R0)