I enlisted at age 18 (Navy Hospital Corpsman), almost 30 years ago. I am now a family medicine physician and a mom of 4 great kids. The military played such a big role in my confidence and maturity and career progression. Furthering your education is always encouraged in the military. You won’t find a more diverse workplace with high morals and integrity. I credit my success to what I learned in the Navy.
@Tcanc6 *30 years ago?
Thank you for your service.
Oops 30 years ago, edited now! Thank you
This is going to end up being my favorite thread ever after the Wade Quadruplets. So many great people, great women who have given so much.
For those saying the military handles sexual assaults well, I’m sure it has gotten better than the past. However, are you honestly saying and believing that most get reported and addressed?
@doschicos Does the military handle sexual assaults any worse than colleges?
Difference is that some do and I can help my kids pick and choose colleges that are better than others in that regard. Not all colleges are equal. Many to choose from, but back to my question which you didn’t answer…
@doschicos At some point you have to let your kids grow up and fend for themselves.
@doschicos As I mentioned previously, the military is a reflection of our society. Keeping that in mind, do most sexual assaults that occur in the civilian world get reported and addressed? I personally know of civilian women and men who have been sexually assaulted and failed to report for various reasons. A number of these crimes occurred in college. Same thing happens in the military. But I also know based on my husband’s job in the Air Force that sexual assault claims during his command , by trainees, military members, and family members were definitely followed up with and dealt with severely. Careers were lost, folks were jailed, victims received the help they needed.
You’re still not answering my question. My kids are doing fine, thanks. 
Let’s address the question. Any person should be concerned about this issue. It is real and tangible especially among enlisted members of the armed forces. Stop throwing up false arguments.
@doschicos We are answering your question, but it may not be the answer you want. Sexual assault is a problem in society and the military, employers and colleges are part of that society.
@4MyKidz Sure it is a reflection of society -to a point. But, different environments and cultures increase the risks. I’d put many branches of the military in that category, especially among the enlisted ranks. It remains a male-driven, testosterone fueled place despite incremental improvements. It is what it is. To claim it is less of a risk or the same risk as the average American civilian lifestyle strikes me as false. (and yes, I do have military family and friends)
My middle kid seriously thought about going into the military. I inquired about his bleeding disorder, and of course that was a disqualifying condition.
@doschicos It is difficult for me to answer your question because I have not researched this issue…I can only share personal experiences. Can you cite data/research that demonstrates there is an increased risk of sexual assault occurring in the military vs. on a college campus?
I think all here could take a breath.
Physically ill? My kids have lots of service to their communities, for years, from 6th through college and after. The roll up your sleeves sort where they worked directly with the neediest, no easy stuff. After college, one served her country abroad in a non military way, 3rd world. The other continues to work with our neediest and most vulnerable, via her career, here in the US. No NIMBY here.
But there are many ways. Nothing says one partucular path is nobler. I worried every day for D1 when she was out of country, and continue to, for D2. But the military would not have been the right path, knowing the child D2 was, at that point, not fully whole, struggling.
If one said today that she’s going to volunteer post hurricane, of course I’d be proud. It would be the culmination of years of influence to selfless service. They’re more mature, better aware of risk management, and I would know it was a considered decision.
Imo, we can’t jump each other for the variety of reactions. There are many ways to serve. To me, that’s the point, to try to actively and intentionally leave the world a little better than you found it.
^Good post. I’m proud as can be of my middle kid volunteering in Syrian refugee camps in Lebanon. Sure, it’s scary, but wow! I wish I were that brave. And there’s no point in my losing sleep over it because it would not help.
They say that there are more male victims of sexual assault in the military than female. And those are grossly underreported as they probably are in society as a whole.
@doschicos I’ll answer your question directly. 100% of sexual assaults that are reported as unrestricted reports are fully investigated.
Victims have access to Victim Advocates, both in or out of the chain of command at the victim’s choice. The victim can choose to make a restricted or unrestricted report. If the victim chooses to make restricted, then he or she has full access to counseling support but an investigation is not conducted and the chain of command is not notified. This is the victim’s choice and this option exists to provide extra anonymity and access to counseling. At any time, the victim can change the report to unrestricted.
Unrestricted reports still maintain the privacy of the victim but the chain of command is notified and an investigation begins. The parent command does not have a choice not to investigate and the case is adjudicated by a higher level of command.
No, not all victims report but I’m not sure what else could be done to encourage reporting and I still stack current military practices against colleges.
Are you speaking with any first hand knowledge of the current culture of the military when you make these accusations? What do your family and friends say and are they currently Active Duty? Five years ago is irrelevant.
@4MyKidz Colleges are estimate one in five for women for sexual assaults. Again no one looks at males too much.
http://www.msnbc.com/ronan-farrow-daily/college-sexual-assault-campus-campus-report-card
Military
“They say that there are more male victims of sexual assault in the military than female. And those are grossly underreported as they probably are in society as a whole.”
I’m sure a) because there are many more men and 2) it’s even more of a taboo subject than male on female assaults.
@Sportsman88 My knowledge is based on my own research as well as having family/friends who have experience as recently as 6 months ago. I’m sure progress has been made and is better than it was years ago.
Another issue that hasn’t been addressed is the high suicide/ptsd/depression rate among those who have served. Again, a bigger issue among enlisted.
I’ve never said that one shouldn’t serve (I’ve suggested here the OP have her daughter look at ROTC) but I’d definitely want my child to go into officer training and I’d look very closely at the different branches. One of my kids seriously looked at the academies but made a different choice.
Yes, there are risks in civilian/college life as well but to say they are equal strikes me as sugarcoating things.