At least 25% of women serving in the U.S. military have been sexually assaulted, and up to 80% have been sexually harassed. A 2011 report found that women in the U.S. military were more likely to be raped by fellow soldiers than they were to be killed in combat.
MILITARY SEXUAL VIOLENCE FACTS
- In FY18, 20,500 service members were sexually assaulted or raped including 13,000 women and 7,500 men. The rate of sexual assault and rape jumped by almost 40% from FY16 to FY18, and for women the rate increased by over 50% to the highest level since 2006.
- Of women who reported a penetrative sexual assault, 59% were assaulted by someone with a higher rank than them, and 24% were assaulted by someone in their chain of command.
CHRISTY HINNANT’S STORY
Christy Hinnant is an 8-year US Army Veteran, rape survivor, activist, advocate and the current Mrs. Universal 2020!
In 2005, Christy was sexually assaulted by a stranger at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Through the years she struggled with the aftermath of the assault; the PTSD, the shame, feeling alone, and not knowing what was next. She struggled with ineffective counselors and the justice’s system not doing their job.
Military Sexual Assault Fact Sheet (Protect Our Defenders)
Learn more from V.O.I.C.E.S. Against SA
- What is sexual assault
- What is rape
- What is consent
- Common emotional effects
- Common mental effects
- Rape Trauma
- Suicide