We are an advocacy group for veterans who experienced Military Sexual Trauma (MST) during active military service and who were neither provided therapy nor provided legal assistance or judicial remedy after the crime. Even after the service person is discharged from active duty and when they exhibit the various symptoms that comprise a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) disagnosis, the Veterans Administration (particularly the Anchorage Veterans Clinic -- Alaskans don't even rate a real VA hospital) is unwilling to offer even the most basic compassion.
After the initial sexual assault(s) and reports of the crimes, the culture that has defined the military for decades generally has conducted no investigation of the crime, the perpetrator is not tried criminally under the Uniform code of Military Justice (UCMJ), keeps the perpetrator and victim at the same duty assignment, sentences the sex offender to no punishment, and does not require the sex offender to place his or her name on an official Sex Offender Registry (because there were no charges and no criminal trial). [This has severe repercussions leading to potentially more victims when the "not-convicted sex offender" leaves active duty and elects to participate in the "Troops to Teachers" program.]
Due to this and more, our organization is designed to spread the word about empirical research in the field of Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), links to relevant news reporting, and, alas, what our political leaders and VA "big wigs" are saying about this topic. Should I name the political figures and veterans "leaders" with whom I have discussed this topic? We've organized because the collective response has been only lip-service.
Until we are further along in the construction of this blog, please feel free to contact us by email at: wswv.ak@gmail.com or by mail at
PO Box 21523, Juneau, AK 99802, or
PO Box 100732, Anchorage, AK 99510.
We are also trying to pay for a web site. This is expensive and we'd be pleased to accept donations. Thanks in advance.
More later, Barbara
