-An estimated 20,000 members of the military are estimated to have suffered a sexual assault in the last year. Frighteningly only 86% of these will go UNREPORTED, that means those perpetrators are not held accountable and are free to do it again.
-These sexual assaults are actually the greatest cause of PTSD or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Not combat trauma but Military sexual trauma (MST) leads the list.
-The PTSD that far too many military men and women return to civilian life with costs them too much. Discrimination in the workplace and loss of relationships only worsen the problem.
-Even with the overturning of the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy there is still a rampant discrimination issue and most gay and lesbian members of the armed forces still choose to remain anonymous for fear of back lash. Transgender persons are still barred from the military.
-1993 to 2011 saw more than 14,000 personnel wrongfully discharged due to supposed violations of “don’t ask, don’t tell.” Each of these members of the military was paid off in the amount of $50,000.
-While it comes as no surprise that white officers reported the lowest percentage of discrimination, at the enlisted level the numbers are almost dead even. Of the Enlisted men and women discrimination rates reported last year were as follows 19% for Hispanics, 22% for Caucasians and 24% black members reported discrimination in the ranks.
-It was not until 1948 that troops became officially mixed in race regardless of the fact that black Americans have been serving in the military for three centuries.
If you have served or are serving the military and experience discrimination you must take a stand.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock/Steven Bognar
