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Virginia Novak
Mrs.DeBock
English IV Honors
20 February 2015
Research Question: Are sexual assaults in the military taken seriously?
Working Thesis Statement: Sexual assaults are not taken seriously and the United
States Military is not taking the proper precautions to prevent sexual misconduct from
occurring.
Refined Thesis Statement: Sexual assault prevention and treatment should be a top
priority of the United States Military.

Annotated Bibliography
Baltrushes, Nicole, and Niranjan S. Karnik. "Victims of Military Sexual Trauma--You See Them,
Too: Sexual Assault While Serving in the Military Is Not Uncommon, and the Effects
Linger Long After Veterans Are Home--and Seeing Civilian Physicians Like You."
Journal of Family Practice 2013: 120. Academic OneFile. Web. 9 Feb. 2015.
Victims of sexual assault especially in the military have a right to be heard. Military
sexual trauma (MST) is one of the main causes posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Most MST
survivors are women, but there are also men who have to go through this horrible experience as
well. Most men that are sexually assaulted will not report their assault as a fear of being thought
as homosexual or weak. Although women are included in the military, the military is often
thought to be male dominated. In this type of male dominated culture sexual assault is more

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common compared to a normal society. This article would be beneficial because it gives an
example of a woman who was sexually assaulted in the military and explains the traumatic
events a victim must go through after their assault.

Gillibrand, Kirsten. "Should Decisions Regarding The Prosecution Of Sexual Assault Cases In
The Military Be Removed From The Chain Of Command?" Congressional Digest 92.8
(2013): 10-14. Academic Search Complete. Web. 10 Feb. 2015.
Victims and their families are trying to make a difference for future soldiers to make new
military guidelines for sexual assaults and sexual assault victims. Last year, President Obama
signed the National Defense Authorization Bill. This bill included the following changes: all
convicted sex offenders to be dismissed, reserving case-disposition, starting the MARCH Act
(Military Access to Reproductive Care and Health for Military Women) and lastly to stress the
Pentagon to demolish the ban that prevents women from serving certain combat positions that
could potentially lead to a promotion. An article with this information would be valuable mostly
because of all of the new laws and programs that were created specifically for women soldiers
and future prevention of sexual assault.

"Sexual Affairs in the Army Creates Toxic Environment." International Business Times 26 May
2013: Points of View Reference Center. Web. 9 Feb. 2015.
In Fort Greely, Alaska there have been over 26,000 cases of sexual assault. Not only is
that completely and utterly disgusting but there have been incidents where soldiers engage of

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sexual favors with officers to go up in rank. Among the one hundred and ninety-five members
there were only sixteen women in 2011. As pathetic as it sounds committing adultery in the
military is completely acceptable. There are no formal rules that prohibit this type of behavior.
Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Miley even defended himself by saying that modern military is an
environment where sexual misconduct is a commonplace. This article provides information
about even decorated soldiers committing sexual assault and thinking that it is in fact okay.