For Love of Country : Confronting Rape and Sexual Harassment in the U.S. Military

A compelling exploration of sexual victimization in the United States military!This incisive book offers a unique perspective on rape and sexual harassment in the United States military. Drawn from the experiences of military personnel and presented in their own words, For Love of Country: Confronting Rape and Sexual Harassment in the U.S. Military takes an honest and heartfelt look at a pervasive problem. Service veterans speak candidly about a breakdown of values and leadership failure which has perpetrated a culture of abuse. Male and female rape victims reflect on their efforts to serve their country with honor.

Author Terri Spahr Nelson, a decorated United States Army veteran and psychotherapist specializing in sexual trauma recovery, has mixed a compelling chorus of hundreds of personal accounts into a single voice calling for reform. She presents emotional retellings from victims of rape and sexual harassment, with responses from military and congressional leaders. Ms. Nelson offers statistics released from the Pentagon about sexual assault reports, convictions, and the General Accounting Office, and current field research.For Love of Country: Confronting Rape and Sexual Harassment in the U.S. Military presents:

• personal accounts from survivors
• unique, inside perspectives from military personnel and veterans
• commentary from military and congressional leaders
• Pentagon statistics on sexual assault with conviction and sentencing rates
• findings and recommendations from the Department of Defense
• clinical information on issues facing military trauma survivors

For Love of Country: Confronting Rape and Sexual Harassment in the U.S. Military serves as a one-of-a-kind resource for professionals, an educational must for military personnel, and a compelling eye-opener to anyone concerned with the preservation of integrity and honor in the United States armed services.

• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Part I: An Introduction to the Problem of Rape and Sexual Harassment in the U.S. Military
• Chapter 1. We Have Met the Enemy and the Enemy Is Us
• What Became of Honor?
• Codes of Honor and Silence
• Times Have Changed Us
• The Trauma of Rape for Service Members
• A Personal Account of Abuse in the Army
• Chapter 2. The Weakest Link Exposed
• The Crisis Surfaces
• International Cases of Violence
• Sexual Harassment and Abuse in Times of War
• Cases Involving High-Ranking Military Leaders
• Admitting the Problem Exists
• A Personal Account of Harassment in the Navy
• Chapter 3. The Truth About Sexual Harassment, Rape, and Sexual Offenders
• Understanding Sexual Harassment
• Rape
• Sexual Offenders
• A Personal Account of Harassment in the Air Force
• Part II: How the Military Responds to Sexual Harassment and Rape
• Chapter 4. Assessing the Problem
• Number of Cases Reported
• Conviction Rates and Sentencing
• Cases Examples and Outcomes
• A Personal Account of Abuse by a Command Sergeant Major
• Chapter 5. Inside the Military: Reflections from Women Who Have Been There
• Women in the Military
• Perspectives on Sexual Harassment and Rape in the Military
• Ongoing Dilemmas
• The Link Between Racial Discrimination and Abuse
• Obstacles Facing Victims of Abuse
• Repercussions After Reporting
• Chapter 6. Positive and Negative Responses to Abuse
• Personal Perspectives
• Positive and Favorable Responses
• Negative and Unfavorable Responses
• A Personal Account of Rape That Resulted in Pregnancy
• Part III: The Aftereffects of Rape, Sexual Harassment, and Abuse of Power
• Chapter 7. Power Failure: The Breakdown of Authority
• Leadership and Command Response
• Law Enforcement and Investigative Practices
• Reactions of Helping Professionals
• The Military's Response to Sexual Offenders
• The Case Against Sergeant Major McKinney
• The “Rape Allegation Checklist”
• Chapter 8. The High Price of Sexual Harassment and Rape
• Financial Costs
• Loss of Personnel
• The Lasting Emotional Effects for Victims and Their Families
• Rape and Harassment at the Military Academies
• Part IV: Confronting the Problem
• Chapter 9. Suggestions for Victims and for the Military from Survivors of Abuse
• Report the Abuse
• Take Action on Your Own Behalf
• Reach Out for Help
• Be Responsive to Victims
• Separate the Victim and the Offender
• Offer Confidential Counseling
• Further Suggestions for the Military on Repairing the Damage
• Moving Forward, Lest History Repeats Itself
• Power Failure Exemplified: The Death of a Soldier
• Chapter 10. In Conclusion
• A Model of Leadership
• Defining Traits of Effective Military Leaders
• A Leadership Dilemma: The Drill Sergeant
• Confronting the Enemy Within
• A Final Note
• References
• Index