Progress in caring for survivors of military sexual assault

Mental and physical health care for conditions caused by military sexual trauma is available for nearly all survivors for free at VA facilities. The status of a veteran’s disability benefit claim status does not matter when seeking care for conditions related to military sexual trauma. In fact, even those whose discharge status may preclude them from getting some other VA benefits can qualify for physical and mental health care related to military sexual trauma. This can be particularly important for those who were inappropriately discharged with personality disorder or who may have gotten a bad-conduct discharge due to disciplinary problems that were caused by symptoms of their PTSD.

All veterans who seek care at the VA are screened for military sexual trauma (not everyone recognizes or admits their experiences right away); men and women who screen positive are offered treatment. PTSD inpatient treatment programs specific to military sexual trauma are available at several VA medical centers around the country; others offer outpatient group therapy sessions. Each VA facility has an MST (Military Sexual Trauma) Coordinator, and patients can request health-care providers of a specific gender to increase their comfort level. For those uncomfortable with the “big VA,” Vet Centers provide another venue for seeking behavioral health care.

The VA is certainly not perfect. Not all facilities are fully compliant with security and safety standards to explicitly address the needs of women veterans (changes that would also improve conditions for male veterans who prefer higher levels of privacy, among other things). Some of those who experienced military sexual trauma may find it “triggering” to seek care in a setting full of people who share characteristics with their attackers and be deterred from seeking care.

Military sexual trauma is a terrible betrayal of those who have served our nation, one that has sadly often been exacerbated by poor treatment once reported and inadequate care in the aftermath. Today, while the Defense Department is struggling to improve prevention and prosecution, the VA is working to ensure that once veterans who have survived military sexual trauma seek care and/or benefits, they are treated with dignity and respect. Though more work remains to be done, some of which is addressed in pending legislation, tremendous strides have been made in the past few years.

With continued advocacy and oversight, the US can drive down the rate of military sexual trauma and also ensure that survivors who seek care and benefits from the VA are treated compassionately and fairly. 

Kayla Williams is a fellow at the Truman National Security Project. She is the author of “Love My Rifle More Than You: Young and Female in the US Army” and “Plenty of Time When We Get Home: Love and Recovery in the Aftermath of War” (forthcoming).

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