How The Military Deals With Rape

BY: ROBIN WILDE
Robin Wilde is a pseudonym. This woman is still serving and does not wish to jeopardize her career any further. She shared her story as a comment on the Jennifer Dyer story, and I asked her permission to post it where folks are more likely to see it. She agreed. I wish her story was an anomaly, and that the military was addressing this issue more significantly. It's not, and they aren't. It is clear that the people will have to shame them into finally taking significant action to stop rape in the military, and deal with victims humanely. Rowan Wolf

I have found that coming forward with rape allegations costs my career. Do we have any rights? I am being retaliated against by my old commander who refused to take issue with me being raped. Instead he called me AWOL, knocked me down to an E-1 from an E-4, transferred me to inactive reserves under a general under honorable conditions. That was great, (not really, since all I wanted was a transfer and he refused 4 requests) until I was to be activated. Now that I was officially an E-1, I am supposed to go through this again? So I rejoin the guard, my new commander reinstates my rank after hearing my story. I join ROTC because I want to be an officer and help other soldiers from experiencing what I have experienced. I have a great job and receive stellar performance reviews.

I have found that coming forward with rape allegations costs my career. Do we have any rights? I am being retaliated against by my old commander who refused to take issue with me being raped. Instead he called me AWOL, knocked me down to an E-1 from an E-4, transferred me to inactive reserves under a general under honorable conditions. That was great, (not really, since all I wanted was a transfer and he refused 4 requests) until I was to be activated. Now that I was officially an E-1, I am supposed to go through this again? So I rejoin the guard, my new commander reinstates my rank after hearing my story. I join ROTC because I want to be an officer and help other soldiers from experiencing what I have experienced. I have a great job and receive stellar performance reviews.

I am working on my MBA with an emphasis on Health Care Management. Sounds great right? I thought so too. 3 weeks ago, one week before Christmas my unit served me with an order requiring that I wear the rank of E-1. With a little investigation I found out that my old commander put in the request. How it was an issue with him today I do not know and why he felt 4 years later it is justified I do not know. Oh but this gets better. He called my Battalion Commander and told him God knows what, I was "laid off" with one weeks notice. That was my Christmas present. No one will talk to me, it's just silence. I was able to keep my E-5 because of my ROTC contract. Lucky me right. Nope. Then I get a call from the ROTC Battalion commander, my old commander is going after my ROTC officer career as well. What can I do? I am meeting with the BC Thursday, I am just going to lay it out straight. What else can I do? I hate to quit, I am not a quitter. Damn!

Oh and PS
Did I mention that I was assaulted by the head of my school in AIT along with 3 other females who were raped by him. This was when I first joined. We filed CID complaints, we all were interviewed several times. Guess what happened? You guessed it, nothing. This E-7 kept his rank. He was transferred from the position but his new job was only 4 blocks from our barracks. Rumors of us being sluts circulated, and of course our cadre wasn't any better. There was never any follow up. During AIT, at least one female a month would get raped in the soccer field across from our barracks. You know what the Army did? Made it mandatory that females couldn't go anywhere without a battle buddy. Males however, were still able to enjoy their personal freedom. I guess it would have been asking to much to put up more lights and a couple of camera's on the field, or maybe have an evening patrolman on weekends? Hmmm...