Sexual assault in the military has been a problem for quite a while, but, has recently become chronic. Pentagon reports have shown a rise in sexual assault in the Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, but, has dropped in the Army. The military as we know it is supposed to protect and serve the citizens of the United States, however, the question if we can even trust the system is in the air.
Troops have continuously struggled to attain the help they need through the military regarding sexual trauma as well as getting justice for such attacks. With sexual assault rising in the past couple of years in the military, it alarms many about where the military stands on the subject and what actions they will take to address the topic.
Statistics of Attacks
A total of 35,900 troops made a report of sexual assault in 2022. Many troops who reported assault stated they had difficulty with MST (Military Sexual Trauma) and struggled with other mental health issues. Suicide rates doubled for women in the military due to trauma. Many said when a formal report was made, commanders wouldn't believe the story and forget about it the next day; because of this, MST is becoming more predominant within our military, and officers are no longer being trusted to deal with serious crimes such as murder and sexual assault that occur under their chain of command.
This has led to new law updates attempting to prevent attacks that happen within the military.
Legal Updates
The amount of women experiencing this treatment in the military is unwary. New legal implications are being put into place to create a safe environment for all. Due to the lack of attention to the health of female troops and recent rises in the number of attacks, sexual assault, and mental health care are a priority.
The new law is making serious cases such as sexual assault an independent crime, separate from the military, and dealt with by outside legal companies. The goal of this is to lower the suicide and assault rates that are occurring and prevent insubordination by military commanders ignoring the issue at hand.
Some have been wary of this new law because of the disconnect between the legal company and the military. Enlisted personnel have stated they felt communication could be disrupted since the military has already had difficulties making the reports, meaning it would be easier for officers to cover up the attacks that occur. This raises the concern that the update could possibly make the situation worse and cause a rise in suicide and assault rates. One lawyer said it would take excellent lawyers to ensure justice for the victims.
Concerns of the Public
An obvious concern is why the rate of sexual assault is so common in the military. It makes many uneasy that the ones protecting us are also the ones hurting us and get away with it so easily. Many times, officers caught committing this crime are still released from the military with an honorable discharge, receiving no legal repercussions. Another worry is the independent practice of legal charges in these cases; information could easily be altered and cases could get thrown out before anyone even knows.
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