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30 Unsettling Facts About Military Sexual Trauma You Need to Know Now
Introduction
In 2018 alone, an estimated 20,000 military members became victims of unwanted sexual contact. But statistics barely scratch the surface when it comes to understanding the entire scope and severe impact of Military Sexual Trauma (MST). Unimaginable yet true, about 2/3 of these victims never report their assaults, often paralyzed by fear of reprisal or cynicism toward a system that rarely holds perpetrators accountable. According to the Department of Defense, a mere 10% were court-martialed in 2017.
The faces behind these numbers represent our service men and women, our heroes who pledged to protect our nation. Yet, they find themselves in environments where their supervisors and commanders — the very people meant to guard them — frequently inflict this trauma. The ensuing psychological and emotional turmoil includes depression, PTSD, and substance abuse, leaving indelible scars that may never heal.
If these unsettling truths make you uncomfortable, they should. As citizens, we can no longer afford to overlook this epidemic. It’s time for urgent action, policy reformation, and, above all, for unflinching public awareness. This list post aims to unveil X alarming facts about MST, not to distress you but to awaken you to a crisis that demands our collective…