Military Deployment

military, women play a larger role than in earlier generations, and they serve in combat support positions such as pilots, convoy transportation, intelligence, mechanics, and military police (Street, Vogt, & Dutra, 2009). These positions have placed female veterans at significant risk for exposure to psychological and physical stress, and women are also at increased risk for experiencing gender harassment and demeaning behaviors based on biological sex differences (Gutierrez et al., 2013). Additionally, roughly one in five women seen by the VA have a history of military sexual trauma (Department of Veterans Affairs, 2010), and they experience stress related to lower social support from peers (Street et al.,

Combat veterans are among the highest at risk for issues in transitioning form military life to civilian. Many potentially suffer from both physical and/or mental traumas. Many veterans and even active duty services members have allowed the unofficial culture of if you need mental or medical help you are weak. Many military families are also afraid of utilizing family support mechanisms out of fear of

The authors concluded that the shorter that dwell time, the harder it is for military families to maintain a stable relationship. The authors also provided helpful information on family support and how stress factors can be reduced when military families come across deployment.

Presently women are sacrificing their lives serving this country in all branches of the military in the United States. Women are more involved in combat situations since the war began in Afghanistan and Iraq. With the increase of women in the military came the increase of sexual violence. In the beginning, very few reports of sexual violence were reported; over time the number of reported cases became a huge issue that brought awareness to those that work with the President of the United States. At that moment, processes were being looked at; changes needed to be made to find ways to give confidence to victims, to feel safe enough to report the crime of sexual violence. The Department of Defense is currently working on measures to alleviate the problem. Sex crimes on women in the military can have intense effects on their mental, physical and emotional well-being. Sexual harassment and sexual assault also extends to include

In “The Invisible War,” it is noted that “women who have been raped in the military have a PTSD rate higher than men who have been in combat” (The Invisible War, 2012). The impact that military sexual assault has on victims is tremendous. Both physical and mental trauma are common, and they play a significant role in how victims of sexual assault are able to return to their daily lives.

Military service members who are and have been deployed to the middle east show high levels of emotional distress and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Both active duty and reserve component soldiers who have experienced combat have been exposed to high levels of traumatic stress. As a consequence, many have gone on to develop a wide range of mental health problems such as PTSD. “According to researchers, PTSD is a long-term reaction to war-zone exposure that can last up to a few minutes, hours, several weeks, and for some a lifetime.” Common symptoms include: emotional numbing, anxiety, feelings of guilt, and depression. If the disorder turns chronic veterans may experience functional impairment (Friedman, M. J. et al., 1994, p.

(More Than Half of post 9/11 Combat Veterans Report Emotional Trauma). Post 9/11 veterans are also at higher risk to suffer from family strains or anger incidents which can often lead to homelessness. (More Than Half of post 9/11 Combat Veterans Report Emotional Trauma). The list goes on. While the percentage of people deployed in the military consists mostly of men, studies show that women who serve in the military are at higher risk for PTSD. (PTSD: National Center for PTSD). Women are more likely to be jumpy, have emotional troubles, and will definitely have a harder time dealing with things that remind them of war. (PTSD: National Center for PTSD). These episodes of jumpiness in anger in both women and men can ruin families, and sometimes even lives. If you ever see someone in public acting strange, before you make a judgement of that person and say to your friends: “look at

To demonstrate even further barriers to access for rural veterans, rural female veterans present with many differing challenges…limited labor and job opportunities, lack of available childcare resources, and limited job opportunities (Szelwach, Steinkogler, Badger, & Muttukumaru, 2011). Additionally, according to the NHRA (2014) female veterans encounter even more barriers in accessing mental health care due to the potential effects of military sexual trauma (MST). Moreover, there is a need for those who are trained in mental and primary

Many females serving in the military experience some form of sexual misconduct. These transgressions can include sexually assault, rape, or some form of harassment. Therefore, attending therapy sessions can be disheartening, especially when the group is geared more towards male PTSD. Currently the military is trying to alter this ongoing problem, by specifically gearing personnel who are trained not only in PTSD, but also sexual mistreatment. Unfortunately, at this time there are only four clinics available to female veterans that address both of these problems (Wakefield,

Many question women’s overall mental ability to handle the extreme circumstances during war. But the truth of the matter is that no human is immune to mental effects and trauma (Sisters in Arms). According to former Marine officer Jane Blair,“Post-traumatic stress disorder is an unfortunate consequence of war, especially for those who have served multiple deployments — and sadly, no gender is immune to it (Blair).” Blair makes a very clear argument about how men and women are all human and that we are all subject to discomfort from conscious decisions. Troops, whether it be male or female have no control over their mental state after seeing some of the harsh effects of war, whether it be a fallen friend in their batoon, or having to take the life of an innocent child in the wrong place at the wrong time. Things like this can have a powerful effect on any person, no matter their gender.

It is common for war veterans to return home with physical and emotional damage from the traumatizing sights they’ve seen and terrible places they’ve been. It is also common for women to return home with MST (Military Sexual Trauma). This occurs when a woman has been raped or assaulted by another person in the military. When these women return from duty, they suffer greatly. Many of them become homeless. Two dozen female veterans were interviewed, and of them, 16 said they were assaulted in the service. 53% of homeless female veterans experiences MST.

According to the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics (2014), there are currently an estimated 19.4 million veterans, of which 1.6 million are women. Eight percent of the US population has served in the US military and 33% of the US population is directly related to someone who has served (Meyer, Writer, & Brim, 2016). Many returning service members face complex mental and behavioral health challenges in readjusting to life after deployment (American Psychological Association [APA], 2016a). Data indicate that one-third of returning Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) service members have reported symptoms of mental-health or cognitive problems (APA, 2016a). This includes concerns of suicidal ideation, posttraumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, military sexual trauma, adjustment disorders, substance use disorders, depression, and anxiety disorders, among others. As OEF and OIF deployed service members continue to return home with high rates of mental health disorders, there are concerns regarding the availability and adequacy of mental health

According to the National Defense Research Institute, policies and programs should be improved to increase reporting of the full range of sexual assaults, including those not perceived as sexual acts. They should expand sexual harassment and gender discrimination monitoring, prevention, and accountability practices and equip commanders with data and guidance to take effective actions. Prevention and enforcement efforts should target bullying, hazing, and other demeaning behaviors. The factors contributing to risk and prevention of sexual assault and sexual harassment should be identified. Lastly, current sexual assault training that service members receive should be assessed (Morral, Gore & Schell, 2014). There needs

“Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.” -Franklin D. Roosevelt.

2. Survivors and victims of the military unfortunately don’t have the knowledge or the maximum support to counteract the obstacles transpires in the battlefield and society. Women do have the most barriers of obtaining support and treatment than their male counterparts after suffering the traumatic experience of underserving sexual assault and harassment.