According to the Department of Defense (DOD), an estimated 19,300 sexual assaults occurred in the military in 2010, and yet only 13.5% of survivors reported the assault. Military sexual violence impacts service men and women in the Active Duty, Reserves and Guard forces, as well as cadets and midshipmen at the U.S. military academies. Victim-blaming, lack of accountability and misogynistic climates are pervasive throughout the U.S. Armed Forces, preventing survivors from reporting incidents and perpetrators from being properly disciplined.

Military sexual violence impacts both men and women. Of the 19,300  estimated assaults in 2010, 10,700 victims were men, while 8,600 were women. While sexual assault and harassment are strongly associated with a wide range of mental health conditions for both male and female veterans, they are the leading causes of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among female veterans. Sexual violence is often a risk factor for homelessness among female veterans. Stress, depression, and other mental health issues associated with surviving military sexual violence make it more likely that survivors will experience high rates of substance abuse and will have difficulty finding work after discharge from the military. (Source)