US Service Members Sexually Assault a Fellow Soldier 25 Times a Day, Every Day of the Year
This past Memorial Day weekend I checked in with SIFF and attended a screening Saturday night of Kirby Dick’s latest documentary “The Invisible War” which won the 2012 Sundance Audience Award. I wanted to write about it immediately but was so enraged when I walked out of the theater that I thought, better to cool off and let the poison work its way out of my system first. Yesterday I met friends for coffee and still couldn’t talk about the film without pangs on anger punctuating every sentence so I figured I’d wait until today to vent. Still angry. Heart still racing. Here goes anyhow.
Let me back up a few steps first. As you may have read, I’m not a fan of bullies. I abhor bullying in a school setting and I consider bullies in the workplace pathetic and contemptible. Football, boxing and the occasional Quentin Tarantino film notwithstanding, I’m deeply troubled by violence of any kind whether perpetrated against humans or animals. (I’m not a vegan but I’d be happy to have that discussion some other day.)
Among the many ways that so-called human beings inflict pain and psychological trauma on each other, rape, to me, is the most vile. There are countless reasons why a person might commit larceny but there’s only a single reason one rapes: an irresistible and incurable compulsion to control, humiliate and torment.
As the Catholic church has demonstrated so convincingly over the past several decades, sexual predators exist in every strata of society and as victims and their families are painfully aware, perpetrators are often among the inner circle. They’re neighbors, friends, co-workers, acquaintances and in the worst circumstances, they’re family.
As someone points out in “The Invisible War,” when the military is at its best, at it’s most optimal, it’s a single unit focused on a clearly defined set of goals with every member a valued and nurtured link in the chain. A family.
According to the film and backed up by the Department of Defense’s own statistics, America’s military family is the family most infected and infested by rape in the nation. A shocking number of women – and men – are raped or otherwise sexually assaulted every year in the military. According to the D.O.D., 19,000 sexual assaults occurred in 2010, a percentage point lower than were perpetrated in 2011. The film makes clear that the military’s attitude toward sexual assault is overwhelmingly to ‘just suck it up’ so it’s no surprise (or secret) that the vast majority of these incidents go unreported. Besides the military’s de facto acceptance of rape and sexual assault within its ranks, one consistent reason that so many attacks go unreported is the fact that often, the perpetrators are the victim’s next in command. Or they’re the perpetrator’s best friend and drinking buddy.
The system is so rigged, so consciously and appallingly blind to this epidemic of violence that it makes one wonder whether it’s time to put aside our otherwise solemn duty to honor the troops until they clean house and with extreme prejudice. For instance, in 2011, fewer than half of sexual assault cases that were reported were considered “actionable” – a decrease of 22% from 2010 – and fewer than 8% of “actionable” cases went to trial. In an estimated 10% of cases that did go to trial, the accused were allowed to quit the military rather than face court martial which means they’re raping and sexually assaulting your family now.
The film has its share of well-meaning politicians who, since the Tailhook scandal, have held hearings, grandstanded, wrung their hands and promised to change things. Not surprisingly, they’ve all failed miserably. They are cowards.
Rape is worse than death. Many rape victims yearn for the relief of death. Over 2,800 people died on 9/11 which precipitated two wars that so far have resulted in the deaths of over 6,400 American troops. According to the film, 500,000 American service men and women have been raped or otherwise sexually assaulted by their fellow soldiers. Close to 20,000 just last year. Where’s the war against rape and sexual assault in the military?
Like many of us since 2001, I’ve honored our men and women in uniform. I’ve bought them drinks and meals and I’ve thanked them for their service. My father earned a Purple Heart during the Battle of the Bulge and that medal is something I’ve been proud of ever since I can remember. This Memorial Day weekend, though, as I watched reports of Fleet Week in New York City and flags being placed on graves at Arlington Cemetery and President Obama laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns, my thoughts were not of honor. Instead, they were polluted by thoughts of the abject terror felt by thousands of American soldiers every year as their ‘brothers’ grab them by the throat, invade their bodies and their minds and leave them panting for air and in lasting desperation for a way back to normal.
Every US service member is aware of the plague of rape and sexual assault among their ranks and an alarming number of them are, themselves, the perpetrators. These men are known to the brass and they’re known to their fellow soldiers yet the reign of terror – and it’s nothing less than that – goes on unabated. Year in, year out. And you know what? Once the rapists are discharged, whether honorably or otherwise, they become our rapists. Our sexual predators.
So next time you run into a service member on the street, or if you have a service member in your family, once you’ve clapped them on the back and shaken their hand and thanked them for helping end suffering in far flung corners of the world, ask them what they’ve done to end the suffering in their own barracks. Urge them to consider volunteering for a search and destroy mission to ferret out and eliminate the terrorists within their own unit. Ask them why it’s wrong for Sudanese and Kenyans and Ugandans to rape their women but it’s OK for a Sergeant in the US military to rape or sodomize a recruit.
“The Invisible War” presents all this and much more far better than I ever could here. In fact, it’s a masterfully shot and constructed film that keeps style appropriately far from substance. Not always easy business for a filmmaker. My only problem with the film is that Dick, no doubt in concert with the incredibly brave women – and one man – who were interviewed for the film and are helping promote it, has chosen to shield the rapists whose crimes are discussed. None of their names are disclosed in spite of the fact that one of them was actually promoted in the course of his investigation and continues to serve to this day. At the Q&A following the screening I volunteered to host a site outing these animals but my offer was not accepted. I make the offer again here.
Please make arrangements to see “The Invisible War” and if you can, take a service member with you. (According to the website, you can host your own screening.)
Light this fire for the 500,000.
Thank you Mark, for understanding the depth of this film. I have been helping thousands of people since 1996, and feel that now, because of this documentary, just maybe, there will be a shift in the attitudes of the military, the general public and hopefully, the families of the survivors who tend side with the “suck it up and drive on” mentality.
Thank you for attending the showing. Please let me know if there is any other information you may want.
You can contact: http://www.InvisibleWarMovie.com if anyone you may know is interested in a showing. The film will be out on 6.22 in major cities.
Susan Avila-Smith
Wow Mark. Awesome post. I served for over 11 years, the best years of my life gone to pure waste. I know first hand how bad the military sucks, and I hardly experienced anything as traumatic as this post suggests. Though, I’d have to say I was mentally assaulted on a daily basis. I never did “fit in”. You have to be a f___ a__ to fit in. I’ll have to check out this film if I can keep back the nausea. It sounds pretty powerful. I saw a Restrapo screening with a few of the “Marines” there to tell us how it was. Those guys were messed up. You could see it from a mile away. The US military is one f-ed up sadistic, twisted, racist, world level terrorist organization. I earned the right to say that. I hope no one find it offensive, but after all, my freedom is what we fight for, is it not? Peace.
Thanks so much for your outrage. I wish more people felt as you do. Haven’t seen the film yet, but maybe together with my local Veteran’s for Peace group, I can help bring it to my rural area where the military is seen as a way out of poverty.
I hope you do go forward with hosting a site; this is something I have called for over the years; like anything shameful, it is always best to bring it out into the light. If you set it up in a way that assures anonymity of the survivor, I bet stories would flock to you! This Army vet might be first in line….
Colleen –
Thanks for your comment and for your encouragement re hosting a site that would shine a light on those whose crimes continue to be covered up and who are no doubt unrepentant as a result. I’m afraid the best opportunity for such a site came and went with Kirby Dick and his film. The victims featured in “The Invisible War” have already forgone their anonymity which is what makes the film’s de facto support of the perpetrators so frustrating and defeating.
Mark.
I am one of those 500,000. It happened twice. I’ve always blamed meself for both in some way but especially 2nd time. I thought how could I let this happen again! I still struggle. I weigh about 300 lbs. and am terrified to loose weight. A part of me feels if I’m fat enough no one will ever look at me again in that way. But after reading posts like yours I realize statistically I couldn’t avoid it. I can say it wasn’t my fault but I still struggle to believe it 100%. i don’t know if I’ll ever loose the weight I don’t know how to deal with it. Thank you for helping me believe alittle more that it wan’t my fault. I haven’t seen the movie and unless it comes out on dvd I won’t get to, it never seems to be showing around here. Thank you.
Charnette –
One thing you can be 100% certain of is that it wasn’t your fault. By the way, you’re also not alone in that it happened twice. So lose the weight if you want/can and, either way, begin the healing process. If you don’t, then the bastards win.
The film will definitely come out on DVD eventually and if you live in a market where it won’t play in a theater, you can host a screening of the film yourself. Go to the film’s website. There’s more info there. Also, if you want to talk to someone about what’s happened and what to do to get your life back on track, check out VetWow.
Good luck!
Mark.
Thanks Mark. I’m working on it (weight). I will check out VetWow also. I appreciate your kind words and support.
It’s not your fault.
It wasn’t the clothes you wore. It wasn’t something you said. It wasn’t what you did. It wasn’t your fault.
Rape and violent crimes happen at any age, birth to death. You could be white, black, Hispanic, Asian, or even purple. You could come from money or be dirt poor. You could be famous or Joe/Jane.
It doesn’t matter.
Victims and survivors of violent crimes happen all the time. It’s not your fault.
I am not a vet, I am not part of the military. I am a proud American. I can only imagine how a violation in an organization that is there to protect our country can be. Protect our country but not our people? Not the people that risk their lives for us daily? Makes no sense.
I guess the question becomes, how do you overcome this extreme violation? You stand up and say screw you. I’m done being hurt, and you will no longer hurt me. I will no longer give my power to you. It wasn’t my fault. You repeat that over and over till you come out the other end. You won’t be shiny, you’ll be a little rusty when you come out the other side. But over time, your shine will come back.
Once you come out the other side, I recommend helping one other person walk through the path. Can you imagine if all 500,000 people stood up?
Remember it wasn’t your fault.
I, unfortunately, am another statistic. I went to the Speak Out in Park City after they showed the movie. I did not see the movie yet, but will eventually. I didn’t need to see it, for what was in it happened to me. I have just begun to say that I am not a Survivor, but I am and always will be a Warrior. The demons in your head never go away, you still blame yourself, you live and act differently in every sense. But, there is hope, and reaching out to other “Warriors” is the best therapy out there. Knowing that I am not alone in what happened, and that I can talk with others and share experiences of daily living and finally realizing someone understands me. Thank you for sharing this story. The more it gets out there the more we wont be invisible. Although, as of yet, if you are still in the service I would NOT recommend telling anyone in the military if you were raped. it could cost you your life. I would go to outside sources. I just was in DC in May for the summit on Truth and Justice (MST) hosted by SWAN. We have started to make a difference, but it will be a slow progress. Blessed Be to all my brothers and sisters in arms. One day we shall be free.
http://mydutytospeak.com
Mark, I’d like to thank you for a powerful post. Hearing from another who viewed this film and the impact it had upon them definitely helps.
I’m a veteran of the USAF, raped 3 times during my first 3 years serving active duty, and now have to live with the resulting PTSD.
I screened “The Invisible War” in my home town with the assistance of Women Veterans of NM and it was very well received by those who attended, including a Military Chaplain, a Chaplain in training, and some additional Army Reserve personnel.
Though I no longer have the energy, I still feel an incredibly compelling drive to do something much along the lines you describe. In fact, years before “The Invisible War” came out, a family member and I discussed a possible photography project which documented survivors (I used to work as a professional photographer). The idea of the project expanded to also include photographs of their perpetrators in the hopes of showing that rapists are rarely the stereotypical creepy stranger hanging out in shadowy alleys, but rather, the people most know and don’t want to admit they are…
Doctors, lawyers, store managers… military servicemen… family members.
The project never got off the ground because I couldn’t figure out how to do it… so many release forms, and how many perpetrators would agree to be photographed? Seriously?
But I believe the time is right for an idea of this nature to finally see the light of day.
Don’t give up on it.
And thank you again for sharing your perspective of this important and powerful film.
Rose – Thanks for adding your voice and for your further validation of what is clearly a nightmarish environment for so many women and men who serve in the US military. I’m hopeful that my post and comments such as yours will help lead to an appropriate means for unmasking the legion of sexual predators that the country’s military and political leaders apparently can’t help but shield and encourage. Mark.
Please, if you do “out” the vermin who perpetuate these attacks, make sure you are only naming those who have been found guilty. Please, draw the line at assuming guilt simply because of an accusation. As evil as it sounds, there are women – and men, though very few of those- out there who will use an accusation of rape as a weapon of revenge. The women that do this undermine the decades of work that has been put in by many of us to have rape seen as a genuine crime in our various countries.
Kayla – Thanks for your comment. Excellent point. Of course, “presumed innocent” is vital. As I wrote in an earlier response, the best chance for such a site was one that would have been directly related to the cases discussed in the film. The victims’ identities no longer need to be protected. The casework is all available for publication (with or without permission from the military) and the slugs who committed the crimes are well known and their crimes fully vetted. I’m sure they have their reasons, but why the women in the film have not taken the obvious next step – removing the virtual pixilation from the faces of the rapists – is something I find hard to understand. They’ve stood in front of the world and described in every detail the intense pain that they’ve suffered – and continue to suffer – yet they won’t name names. Mark.
Good job my friend.
This makes me so sad. I recently read an article about the high rates of suicide amongst our military and vets and can’t help but think the two issues are related. Thank you Mark for writing such an articulate and passionate article about the issue. I look forward the seeing the film hope we can make this topic go “viral”.
Thanks for adding your voice here Bernadette. You may be aware of the court martial beginning today in San Antonio. It’s only a drop in the bucket but it’s better than nothing. I plan to write about it in the very near future. Mark.