Sexual Assault Victims Need To Shut Up

2014-12-14T21:29:11-05:00

...or risk being discharged with a diagnosis of "adjustment disorder".
Post 9/11, soldiers were being discharged for personality disorders. In our "enlightened" times, many of us realize that this was a catch-all diagnosis used by the government to avoid paying VA benefits to those suffering from PTSD.
Personality disorders are considered pre-existing conditions, of which the military is not culpable, and therefore, isn't required to cover. The label of "adjustment disorder" is wielded quite similarly:
http://reason.com/blog/2014/05/28/adjustment-disorders-in-us-military
This article isn't without merit, as the hurdles are outlined, quite explicitly, in the Army's own AR 135-178.
I'm not posting a link to the AR. There have been quite a few posts on here regarding both sexual assault and causes of discharge initiation, respectively.
Highly inflammatory title? You betcha. Disturbing...absolutely.
Let's educate ourselves (or reintroduce ourselves) on what Army Command has outlined as appropriate COAs.

Trouble 'Adjusting' to Sexual Assault May Be Getting U.S. Military Members Booted Without VA...

Are military psychiatrists suggesting that sexual assault is a standard part of military life, one which some people just have a hard time adjusting to?

Response by SGT Michael Glenn made Dec 14 at 2014 9:43 PM

2014-12-14T21:43:22-05:00

If its not one thing its the next!!!

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 14 at 2014 10:07 PM

2014-12-14T22:07:10-05:00

Note that the Army's own Army Directive to adjust AR 40-501 (as based on DSM V) state that adjustment disorders may arise from significant traumatic events. They are not necessarily pre-existing and without solid backing from the SJA, the headline of this thread serves more to discourage reporting than it does to save benefits.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Dec 14 at 2014 10:18 PM

2014-12-14T22:18:09-05:00

In the 1950s it was called McCarthyism. Senator Joe had half the country condemned as Communists and the other half seeing Red everywhere they went.

I'm not an expert, my knowledge is based on the research my wife and I have done over the years regarding our son with autism.

Today almost 20% of elementary school students (stats from my area) are diagnosed with adjustment disorders ADD, ADHD, etc. I question the credibility of some of the diagnosis because a handful of these kids can seemingly turn it on and off like a switch. What some of them need is a swift kick in the Djibouti. Once diagnosed and treated, you carry that with you. You don't simply acquire these types of disorders in later life, from the reading I have done. Unless one hides it, that diagnosis should be picked up on an initial medical records review, I would think.

PTS is another story. That is acquired due to involvement in a traumatic event or continued exposure to trauma - combat, physical or mental abuse, assault, etc. A child could suffer from PTS which could present as adjustment disorder at that age, but not an adult, from my understanding.

Response by CW2 Joseph Evans made Dec 14 at 2014 10:16 PM

2014-12-14T22:16:14-05:00

I've seen this used to shut up a Soldier after she tried to terminate her affair with a married officer... Unfortunately it worked. She was making poor decisions because of his abuse and it caused her to be discredited in the eyes of the command as a viable witness to her own abuse.

Rather than get her the help she needed and terminating the officer in question, he received a quiet reprimand and she was moved to another command where the commander and 1SG were good friends with the officer in question... and she was processed out after a few "disciplinary issues". Don't tell me the military, the Army, isn't full of shenanigans...

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 14 at 2014 11:13 PM

2014-12-14T23:13:47-05:00

And even harder for the male victims whose whole life is upside down and not just with single events but alternating kinds of abuse. The victim feels powerless especially when females are filmed showering. That behavior is disgraceful. A kind of tyranny is imposed by fear of exposure of sexual abuse and the stigma associated with it.

Also, the characterization of Veterans as dangerous just because they get mad. Like trauma wasn't bad enough now it is exacerbated by policies that criminalize victims another time.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 15 at 2014 1:40 AM

2014-12-15T01:40:59-05:00

If anyone feels like doing some "light" reading, here are some links:

In 2008, the GAO issued a report stating that the “DoD does not have reasonable assurance that its key personality disorder separation requirements have been followed.”
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-10-1013T

In several cases, evidence was found that suggests commanding officers are simply asking mental health providers to enter the diagnosis in the member’s permanent record in order to discharge troops with minor problems or those who cause the chain of command embarrassment quickly and with no benefits — embarrassment such as reporting a sexual assault.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/25/us/a-military-diagnosis-personality-disorder-is-challenged.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&

Many victims of MST report being discharged for a personality disorder or adjustment disorder after attempting to report the incident.

“It’s convenient to sweep this under the rug. It’s also extremely convenient to slap a false diagnosis on a young woman … and then just get rid of them so you don’t have to deal with that problem in your unit,” Service Women’s Action Network founder Anu Bhagwati said in an interview with CNN. “And, unfortunately, a lot of sexual assault survivors are considered problems.” http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/14/health/military-sexual-assaults-personality-disorder/

In 2012, it was estimated that 6.1 percent of the entire active-duty female force had been the victim of military sexual trauma, which was an increase from the previous year, according to a Department of Defense press conference held on May 7. Based upon command climate surveys, that accounts for about 12,000 women.
http://www.defense.gov/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=5233

Other articles:
http://mn.gov/mdva/images/FederalJune17to21.pdf

If this is to much for anyone, then go find links of your own, do your own research, you don't have to use the one I posted. However don't be dismissive. Don't kid yourself that this stuff doesn't happen.

It is unfortunate SGT Private RallyPoint Member, sexual assault will never be completely eradicated within the ranks. The numbers won’t go down until the DoD and we as a military culture stop treating sexual assault as some alcohol-induced social solecism. Leadership needs to tow the line and get people the help the need and quit passing the buck to take the easy road. There is no amount of death-by-powerpoint that is going to stop a predator from being a predator or stop someone from committing suicide Let's stand up and do the right thing, otherwise, everything I ever believed in, everything I hold dearly, doesn't mean a damned thing.

Defense Health Care: Status of Efforts to Address Lack of Compliance with Personality Disorder...

This testimony discusses the Department of Defense's (DOD) separation requirements for enlisted servicemembers diagnosed with personality disorders and the military services' compliance with these requirements. DOD requires that all enlisted servicemembers, including those serving in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), be physically and psychologically suitable for military service. Enlisted...

Response by SFC Michael Jackson, MBA made Dec 15 at 2014 7:51 PM

2014-12-15T19:51:15-05:00

Instead of shutting up, someone need to speak up for these victims that were criminally attacked while serving in uniform. Sounds like word play is being used to cheat our service members out of benefits, which is not inconsistent with the reputation of the VA

Response by CW5 Jim Steddum made Aug 30 at 2015 5:42 PM

2015-08-30T17:42:14-04:00

There are a lot of issues with sexual assault in America. It is a national problem, not merely a military one. The Army alone inducts about 15,000 new Soldiers from society every year. Do you think we will be able to completely be able to eradicate sexual assault, or any other type of crime for that matter?

I hope that U.S. Service Members not be swayed by a very biased media. If they need counsel as a victim, the DoD now offers a variety of services that are protected by confidentiality, to include Special Victim Counsel; lawyers that represent victims only. Talking about these topics is not the issue. Leaders should be talking about these problems as much as possible, before the assault happens--so that maybe it won't happen. We all need to help victims become survivors and criminals receive justice.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 12 at 2020 7:22 PM

2020-03-12T19:22:54-04:00

Id always had verbal abuses from my nco's. It was a huge gilt to become an NCO and add to the corps. They would blame their indecencies on 'PTSD' or talk about how their wives weren't as good of listeners as me, we were more compatible, etc. (favorite was the MSG who wanted to 'mold me' into a stronger soldier)
Fast forward two years and I'm making NCO Friends at a new unit. Their time at the unit created bonds with younger soldiers, and once when I was fully inebriated they invited her out to 'give experience' before her upcoming wedding.
Go ahead and imagine how that went. I defended her, got wrapped up as the bait, and all she got on camera was a frenzied smile as I tried to wiggle away from the youngest. Didn't happen to get anything else on camera, and nothing turned into dna-worthy. Just a bit roughed up and mildly violated by my nco chain.
I went to report it, their seniority and access to information got ahold of the sharp file inappropriately. Young soldier turned against me, to defend her 'friends', and my reputation was quietly ruined. I couldn't get my commander to move me and others made up reasons why I wasn't liked by my soldier, regardless of what I did to serve my unit. I was recommended for a deployment when I asked after the SHARP case too much, even being on anit-depressants and hip injury. Had hell at processing and hell when I got back.

All because some idiots took advantage of their position and felt-up their coworker. IG asked if it wasn't easier to just go on since I have no proof and I have a whole Brigade against me. I've got a complicated case, but I swear to god if there was just a way for me to work hard and not go back into a hole to hide away for safety and be in the Army, Id reenlist.

Wish me the best and that I don't lose my mind during outprocessing