Rape and Roll Call: How Military Culture and Military Law Affect the Immediate Aftermath of MST

Abstract

The chapter title, “Rape and Roll Call,” is meant to illustrate how victims of sexual trauma in the military must operate within the greater military culture and fall in line accordingly despite the severe trauma of an assault, which can include psychological chaos and physical injury. The chapter will outline the creation and current implementation of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO) within the federal government and discuss the current legal climate of prosecuting sexual assault crimes within the armed services. In addition, forensic medical exams and investigation procedures after an assault will be examined. The chapter will conclude discussing the creation of the “Hagel Memo” regarding PTSD and discuss MST-related honorable and dishonorable discharges from military service. The chapter will end with advocacy considerations in the immediate aftermath of an assault in the military, as well as how to advocate for MST-related support post-discharge as a veteran.

We were on tour for the military band and when we got back, I went into my supervisor’s office and said, ‘I need to talk to you about something’ and he said, ‘I need to talk to you about something else’ and he said, ‘You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law’ and I said, ‘Wait a minute. What are you doing?’ I said, ‘What are you reading me rights for?’ and he said, ‘You had sex with a married man’ and I said, ‘No I didn’t. I was raped by a married man.’ He looked at me disapprovingly and said, ‘So you are saying you were raped?’ and I said, ‘Yes, there was no doubt about it!’ He didn’t believe me. He said, ‘Well he came in here the day before and told me that you guys had had sex.’

(Zaleski, 2013, p. 44)