Cover Letter: Sexual Assault in the Armed Forces

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August 19, 2020

Tammy Duckworth

Washington, D.C.

524 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

Phone: (202) 224-28 54

Dear Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth,

My name is Your Name, and I am writing on behalf of myself and the people of the USA. We are deeply concerned about the issue of sexual violence and harassment in the military. It is a significant problem, as can be seen from the latest Pentagon reports (April 2020), which provided information on the rapid increase in sexual assault rates and harassment in the military. The number of reports is significantly higher compared to the situation in 2019 (Kenney, 2020). Moreover, I should note that the issue has been existing for a long time. In 2019, the Defense Department reported that sexual violence in the American military has suddenly increased in the last two years (Philipps, 2019). The recent cases of the death of Vanessa Guillen and the issues at Ford Hood are proof of the seriousness of the problem. I am confident that the situation requires immediate legal intervention.

I address this issue to you, as you are deeply involved in veterans affairs and, thus, well-informed about the American armys real state of affairs. Your actions in support of the financial state of veterans and their families (especially female veterans) are of great respect to American society. We believe that your sincere interest in those problems will help to address the ongoing issue of sexual harassment in the U.S. army. Below, you can find a pamphlet that demonstrates the issue in detail and offer a recommendation, a set of actions that can be performed to lower the number of cases of sexual assault in the United States armed forces.

Pamphlet: A guideline

General information on the issue

Sexual violence and harassment is ongoing issue in the United States armed forces. The problem became the center of public attention in 2010 when the Department of Defense (DOD) has reported a significant increase in sexual assaults, including unwanted sexual contact, touching, and sex (NSVRC, 2013). Despite the governments efforts to prevent harassment in the armed forces, it remains an unsolved issue. It can be seen from the latest Pentagon reports presented in 2020 (Kenney, 2020). The inappropriate actions are committed against both male and female military workers by their colleagues of the same position or military people of higher ranks.

Effects of sexual violence

Numerous studies have demonstrated a strong link between sexual harassment and violence and mental health issues, and it is not an exception for the armed forces. People who experienced sexual abuse reported depression, sexual issues, eating disorders, anxiety, personality disorders, and other health-related problems (NSVRC, 2013).

Analysis and reasons

The issue is especially controversial due to the nature of the military profession that implies moral barriers on a victim to report the case. According to NSVRC (2013), 67% of female victims and 80% of males did not report incidents to military or civilian authorities. The reasons for avoiding reporting sexual violence in the military include the following: desire to hide the incident, shame, accusations of other military coworkers, and fear of career loss. Thus, the above-mentioned facts demonstrate that the real numbers of incidents are significantly higher than those shown in the official statistics. Moreover, the latest governmental reports, the recent death of Vanessa Guillen, and the issues at Fort Hood are vivid examples of the unsolved problem with sexual violence in the military.

An example and a proposition

The death of Vanessa Guillen has revealed that sexual violence is still a real problem in the military. Moreover, the case has proved that recent governmental reforms have failed to address the ongoing issue (Jindia, 2020). In this regard, I would like to propose to lower the number of cases of sexual violence. I believe that the set of actions needs to consist of three major parts: revision of military legislation, education programs, and the introduction of permanent psychological assistance in the military.

Preventive measures

Concerning the first measure, I believe that legislation changes can be a powerful tool, as it implies legal liability on an offender. The proposition is the following: an immediate dismissal from the army of those who have been found guilty of minor sexual assaults, as unwanted advancements, touching, and other similar actions. Such a severe punishment would be a preventive measure and would reduce the number of cases. Second, education programs should be introduced regularly. Military workers should have training once every six months, which includes information on what is considered sexual violence and harassment, the relationship of sexual abuse to mental health issues, communication training programs, and raising awareness on sexual violence cases in the country. Third, it is essential to require military people to regularly see a psychological professional to prevent cases of harassment and sexual violence. The doctor could detect an overall atmosphere in the army and report poor behavior if needed.