Sexual assault within the U.S. Military: the case of Spc. Vanessa Guillen
On April 22, 2020, Army Specialist Vanessa Guillen went missing from the regimental engineering squadron headquarters where she worked in Fort Hood, TX. Earlier in the year, Guillen told her family members and friends she had been sexually harassed on the base. When she was declared missing, her family immediately expected foul play.
Despite the #MeToo movement that has held powerful men accountable for sexual misconduct, sexual assault and harassment in the military is on the rise. From FY2016 to FY2018, there was a 50% increase in sexual assault allegations in the U.S. military. Approximately 40% of female veterans have reported experiencing Military Sexual Trauma (MST); and, a 2010 study concluded that U.S. service women in Iraq were more likely to be raped by a fellow service member than to be attacked by enemy fire.
The U.S. military claims to both protect the country at large and protect its members who give their life to its service. To achieve this kind of system, infallible trust must exist between service members and their leaders. The alarming rates of sexual assault in the military demonstrate a break in the fundamental component of this system. Objectifying and dehumanizing women who serve the nation debunks the myth of American exceptionalism and exposes the underlying misogyny and racism on which U.S. institutions are built.
Within the ranks of the U.S. military, women are often systematically abused with no 3rd party accountability. Less than a quarter of all sexual assault victims report their abuse, and of those reported in FY2019, only 6% of cases were tried by court martial and only 2% of offenders were convicted. Because punishment is left up to the subjectivity of the commander, it can be little more than a slap on the wrist.
Fast Facts:
· From FY2016 to FY2018, there was a 50% increase in sexual assault allegations in the U.S. military.
· Approximately 40% of female veterans have reported experiencing Military Sexual Trauma (MST)
· Less than a quarter of all sexual assault victims report their abuse, and of those reported in FY2019, only 6% of cases were tried by court martial and only 2% of offenders were convicted
· When women in the military report their abuse, 64% face retaliation such as violence or harassment.
· A third of victims are discharged within 7 months of reporting.
When women in the military report their abuse, 64% face retaliation such as violence or harassment — usually by someone within their chain of command. A third of victims are discharged within 7 months of reporting.
Inside and outside the military, gender-based violence is magnified for members of racial minorities. Guillen was a first-generation U.S. citizen with roots in Mexico, the Washington Post claims. This act of violence against a member of the Latinx community reinforces the fact that non white people are not accepted in military culture even though they undergo the same training, take the same oaths, and perform the same tasks.
In the weeks following the disappearance of Guillen, her case gained national attention. Her family held rallies, and prominent actors and musicians such as Selma Hayek and Houston-based rapper Baby Bash used their platforms to bring awareness to her case. Two weeks after her disappearance, the Guillen family started a GoFundMe page to raise money to hire a private investigator because they suspected that the Army was involved in a cover-up. What was identified as the remains of Vanessa Guillen’s body were found on June 23, approximately 30 miles outside of Fort Hood.
A 2010 study concluded that U.S. service women in Iraq were more likely to be raped by a fellow service member than to be attacked by enemy fire.
The primary suspect in the case, Spc. Aaron Robinson, was stationed at Fort Hood with Guillen. Investigators who searched Guillen’s phone said her last text message before her disappearance was to Robinson. A witness claimed Guillen went to the arms room controlled by Robinson to confirm serial numbers for weapons and equipment. Later, Robinson was seen loading a large case into the back of his car.
Robinson committed suicide as police moved in to arrest him on July 1. His estranged wife, Cecily Aguilar, was taken into custody and professed to know details of the murder.
Guillen’s murder has prompted other servicewomen to share their stories via social media using the hashtag #IAmVanessaGuillen. They have recounted their experiences of trauma from sexual harassment, assault, and rape in various branches of the armed forces, including the military academies. These women were assaulted in public and in private, from friends and leaders alike.
A group of women veterans and service members have written a letter to Congress, demanding justice for Vanessa Guillen. In the letter, they wrote:
“Despite decades of unquestionable proof, advocacy, and cries for change, cases of sexual violence perpetrated by our fellow service members and leaders have continued to rise. Structural racism is endemic throughout the armed forces, creating a double burden for service members of color who have endured sexual harassment and assault. Frequently, the destructive traumas these issues generate are perpetrated by the very chain of command we are told to rely on. Too many leaders remain either unwilling to, or incapable of, putting a firm stop to sexual assault and sexual harassment, nor do they pursue justice when these crimes occur in their units.”
The letter accuses the U.S. military of upholding a culture that fosters sexual assault, protects perpetrators of sexual violence, and fails to hold leaders accountable who sweep sexual assault under the rug and participate in retaliation. To read the petition terms and sign, visit this page.
The lives of minority women are not protected within the institution that itself proclaims to protect all U.S. citizens. As the Dressember community, it is imperative for us to advocate for the dignity of all people. We must demand that U.S. institutions do the same.
About the Author
Emma Beavins is from Franklin, Indiana—a mid-sized town in the heart of central Indiana. Emma is an avid reader, caffeinated-beverage consumer, and a firm believer in the pancakes-are-better-than-waffles debate. Emma enjoys running half marathons and spending quality time with friends, preferably over breakfast. Emma is studying English and Spanish at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana where she hopes to be able to use her verbal and written communication skills to advocate for various social justice issues.