Beyond The Deck-plates: "Dogface-Sailor to Dogface-Sailor"
You did your duty. Lord know there’s not a day that goes by you’re not reminded.
Shipmate, why is your weapon still loaded? Why are you still swabbing the deck, checking the Alpha roster, shining the bright-work and above all else, taking someone else's extra duty?
Listen, I get it. It is not uncommon for a soldier or sailor to keep a closed lip, heck, “Loose Lips Sink Ships” but buddy nobody told us the ship was going down as we speak? Just last year they reopen 75 cases based on historical evidence and one case report in 2014 found such risk high aboard military ships about 1 out of 25!
Man, I’m telling you, the Army found out about the report and conducted their own study and yes, (to call out names): “Fort Myer, Virginia; Fort Benning, Georgia; Fort Drum; and Rose Barracks, Germany” all are high risk areas; and for the Airforce and Marine Corps, it identified: “Laughlin Air Force Base; Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington D.C.' Luke Air Force Base, Arizona; and Columbus Air Force Base”, “Japan, Korea, and Afghanistan”.
See, wait hold on a second, hear me out!
It was also found in this 2015 study, over 52% of soldiers and sailors endured some sort of administrative punishment or reprisal for just mentioning it. The crazy part is three years ago the Pentagon reported some 38 of us were told, “Suck it up Butter-Cup, and went back in the field to endure the stigma, the mental instability, the crazy mind trick we inflict on ourselves while our leadership gets a pass and do nothing to hold themselves and others accountable! All of which is still relevant in the 2020-2021 reports.
My brother lets be real for a second. It is ok to feel upset. Just by going into the VA for counseling, this is not dime dropping, it has nothing against you being a "Patriot" or acknowledging some traditional rite of passage, this is not hazing my brother, call it what it is, its RAPE!
RAPE! RAPE....
“In 2013, evidence was given before the House of Representatives that 54 per cent of the 26,000 victims of sexual assaults while on active duty were men (Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Safety for Survivors [hereafter Safety for Survivors] 2013: 8). There is also considerable evidence that military men suffer higher levels of personal impairment after sexual attack than do female servicemembers (O’Brien et al., 2015: 358).”
Shipmate, from what you told me over the years you in no way consented. You were forced, touched and grabbed, penetrated and threatened. On top of that your nightmares, depression, and insomnia are overwhelming you and your love-ones. Look, you are on your third marriage and I know, I have been with you through them all! Just last week you grumble that they all complain of your isolationism and sexual frustrations. My friend, I love you Bro. This is why I am coming to you right now as a friend. I have a number you can call or we both can call together because we are in this together shipmate.
It’s a Military Sexual Trauma (MTS) Hotline (Veterans Crisis Line): Call 800-273-8255, then select 1
Bro, hear me out, I know, I understand where you’re coming from it’s a lot to take in, I know… But listen. See, I know the road is rugged but let me tell you it’s navigable because I can tell you I understand because I understand. You are me…
You did your duty. Lord know there is not a day that goes by you are not reminded. Shipmate, why is your weapon still loaded? Why are you still swabbing the deck, checking the Alpha roster, shining the bright-work and above all else, taking extra duty?
Please, take my recovery key. It’s going to be a journey but man please, you have inspired me for reading this far but please, let’s get you home. Please?
References:
- https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/86069/va-believes-survivors-military-sexual-trauma/
- https://www.va.gov/health-care/health-needs-conditions/military-sexual-trauma/
- https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/mentalhealth/msthome/index.asp
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17526272.2021.1884785
- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0022009420925874?journalCode=jcha
- https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2018/09/21/sexual-assault-here-are-the-bases-where-troops-are-most-at-risk/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_assault_in_the_United_States_military
- https://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2014/09/10/38-men-raped-in-u-s-military-each-day
- https://www.gq.com/story/male-rape-in-the-military
- https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2018/08/22/the-army-wants-more-male-sexual-assault-survivors-to-file-reports/
- https://news.yahoo.com/photos-men-too-the-hidden-tragedy-of-male-sexual-abuse-in-the-military-005342483.html
- https://www.army.mil/article/166188/male_hazing_most_common_type_of_sexual_assault_expert_reveals
- https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/09/10/us/men-military-sexual-assault.html
- https://www.refusingtokill.net/rape/malerapinthearmy.htm
- https://www.benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/factsheets/serviceconnected/MST.pdf
- https://www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/mstcoordinators.asp