A PBS NOW investigation found that sexual assault and rape is widespread in the US military. On Friday, September 7 NOW features women who speak out for the first time about what happened. One woman recounts her ordeal of rape by her superior officer. Many more don’t report the incidents for fear of how it will affect their careers.
Nicole Belle reported, “The shocking phenomenon has a label: military sexual trauma, or MST. NOW meets women courageously battling to overcome their MST, bringing light to an issue that’s putting the army in shame. One study of National Guard and Reserve forces found that almost one in four women had been assaulted or raped. Last year alone, almost 3,000 soldiers reported sexual assault and rape by other soldiers.”
The NOW website will offer the latest statistics on MST and insight into the challenges of reporting sexual abuse in the military.