Jacquelyn Sepulveda

Government 6
10/20/15
Mr. Burchett
Sexual Assault in the Military
The U.S. Military was created in this country to keep all of us safe, but the military itself
might be the most dangerous place in the world. Statistics dating back to the very early 2000s
have shown just how much sexual assault has played in the military. Both men and women are at
risk of being sexually assaulted and surprisingly there are still many young high school girls who
have goals of being a part of keeping this country safe.
Thousands of civilian sexual assault cases go unsolved and part of that is because the
victim is afraid to speak up about the incident. The same thing happens in the military almost
every day. Women are most likely not to report the sexual assault due to the assailants position.
This person may be her commanding officer which is the person she has to see every day and be
in contact with regularly throughout the regular work day. Between July 1, 2012 and June 30,
2013, the Department of Defense reported 3,553 incidents of sexual assault, a 43 percent
increase from the year before. (Practical Problems). During this time there were 219 casualties
in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan which means soldiers were 15 times more likely to get raped
by fellow soldier or comrade than die in combat. These numbers are incredibly shocking yet no
one has done anything to stop it. Rape culture is the idea that institutions, media, and popular
culture normalize and excuse sexual violence by encouraging male aggression, using victimblaming, and tasking victims with the burden of rape prevention (Military Sexual Assault:
Reporting and Rape Culture McEwan 2009). Rape culture doesnt only exist in our social culture
but bleeds into the organization of men and women who are supposed to keep us and this country
safe.
When the sexual assault does happen, the soldier has the opportunity to report the
incident to their SARC (Sexual Assault Response Custodian) and leave the investigation in their
hands. Statistically, a majority of appeals are not investigated fully, and most that are
investigated are not substantiated. According to a recent study by the GAO, the Inspector
Generals Office fully investigated an average of 29 percent of all reprisal complaints between
fiscal years 2006 and 2011, and it substantiated 25 of those investigated complaints. Thus, six
percent of all complaints between fiscal years 2006 and 2011 were substantiated and could be
considered by a Board. (Sexual Assault in the Military September 2013).