ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to inform and update clinicians about the experiences of sexual trauma in military members, both male and female. From a clinical perspective, sexual harassment refers to an unwanted sexual experience that occurred in the workplace. Within the military context, the workplace is broadly defined since the military is a 24/7 occupation and oftentimes military members work and live in the same geographical location. The 2014 RAND Military Workplace Study (RMWS) found that active-duty Air Force service members experienced lower rates of sexual harassment and assault when compared with other branches of the military. In addition to enhancing the formal reporting process, the Army's Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) program has enhanced focus on increasing education and prevention efforts. Military sexual trauma appears to be a unique predictor of psychiatric symptoms after controlling for combat exposure and other life stressors.
