ALL VETERANS MATTER
CONTENT WARNING: This is a story about rape and contains frank discussions related to that subject.
Editor’s note: This article is the first installment in a short series exploring a national problem through local voices. This is not an investigation specific to any military base, but a look into the widespread claims of retaliation faced by survivors after reporting sexual assaults up the chain of command. Names in this report have been changed to respect the survivor’s request for anonymity.
Jane’s Story: A Dream of Service
In early October of 2025, I met with Jane Wilson, a local mother, churchgoer, and animal enthusiast. Jane is also a veteran and a survivor of sexual violence – and she’s ready to start telling her story.
Jane’s fingers tapped on the table, and she let out a nervous laugh as she recalled her time in the U.S. Navy.
“I joined the military because it meant serving my country – it meant protecting other people.”
“Go Navy”
Jane said she was trained as a Cryptologic Technician – Collections (CTR), working at a National Security Agency installation for her first duty station, and after that, serving aboard a Nimitz Class Aircraft Carrier, and eventually transferring to a cyber defense command stateside.
She recalls loving her job.
“I was always on,” she elaborated, “You were always looking for something, listening for something, teaching something.
“It was interesting, and I felt like I was contributing to the mission from behind the scenes – I really loved that.”
Jane said her feelings about her experiences in the military started to shift when she realized that things weren’t exactly as they appeared.
“At the time, it really felt like we were making a difference – we were keeping people safe,” she reflected. But the military didn’t care about keeping US safe.”
Absence of Justice
Jane was raped on two separate occasions while serving.
The first assault occurred after she was assigned systems training with an all-male crew from a neighboring ship. She was surprised to be invited to a crew pre-deployment dinner at a restaurant, considering the “all business” attitude of the Leading Petty Officer – next to whom Jane was sat.
“I didn’t like him very much,” she said. “But I was trained to be polite and deferential to men who outranked me or were older than me.”
After dinner, she was invited to a “hangout” with the crew. And it was there that the Leading Petty Officer raped Jane.
Jane reported this assault and felt unsupported throughout the entire process.
In early 2007, it happened again.
At this point, she had two and a half years of military service under her belt. She was recognized as a knowledgeable and capable service member. But that didn’t stop her perpetrator.
And this time, video evidence corroborated Jane’s recollection of the events. Her rapist made a partial confession, but in the end, the case didn’t go far – and Jane still feels that absence of justice.
Sexual Assaults in the Military
Jane was failed by the military system after reporting her assault – both times – and she isn’t alone.
Sexual assault in the military remains alarmingly common, and for many survivors, even the act of reporting it can be traumatic. Especially when they have to fear retaliation.
According to the Department of Defense, there were 8,195 sexual-assaults reported in the armed forces in 2024.
Advocacy groups such as Protect Our Defenders warn that more than half of survivors face retaliation after reporting, and data-specialist website Gitnux.org reports that only 5 percent of cases result in convictions – a rate comparable to civilian law enforcement.
Jane’s experience has become all too typical, exposing gaps and other flaws in a system that doesn’t appear capable of protecting the everyday people who make the system function.
Confusing Reporting Systems
When it comes to reporting sexual harassment or assault up the chain of command, Jane said survivors in the military have two options: they can either file a report as “Restricted” or “Unrestricted.”
Filing a restricted report keeps the incident confidential and gives the victim control over the next steps, allowing them to receive support and medical care without an automatic investigation.
Unrestricted reporting triggers an official investigation by law enforcement; and the command, and if evidence of a crime is found, immediately initiates prosecution.
Critics of the process say the system isn’t survivor centered, and may cause victims further harm.
For instance, the naming of a perpetrator – even unintentionally – automatically launches an investigation.
This can occur without the victim’s knowledge or consent, resulting in further traumatization.
Jane said that’s what happened in her case.
Getting the Run Around
“The first time I tried to report it … the woman I reported to said, ‘Look, what do you want me to do with this?’” she recalled.
Jane said she was then pulled into a process that ultimately left her feeling deflated, dismissed, and re-traumatized.
She said initially, she was referred to the chaplain.
“I waited for four hours before someone told me he wouldn’t be back that day,” she said, adding that she was referred to a different chaplain, who didn’t treat her report with the dignity it deserved.
“He was a combat vet[eran] himself, and an officer attached to a special forces unit, but not the person that a traumatized female in her twenties needed to be talking to,” Jane said, “He was kind of rude about it — like he had other things to do.”
Next, Jane was directed to the military’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program, designed to support survivors.
Message Received
She said that by this time, her energy was depleted, and her hopes for getting help were dwindling, and she did not feel seen or supported.
“At that point, I had spent my whole day trying to report my rape,” she said, “So, I got the same message – tough shit — I better not open my mouth.”
Jane said she decided to try to put it behind her, and she showed up for work the next day.
She didn’t mention another word about it. And neither did anyone else.
Going From Bad to Worse
But when she was later assaulted by a different perpetrator – one in whom she had confided about her previous rape – she started experiencing panic attacks and nightmares. It was affecting her wellbeing, and it was time to make another report.
This time, she made one slip of the tongue that would ultimately cost her the career she’d spent years building.
“I accidentally said the name [of the perpetrator], and they said it was now unrestricted.”
At that point, Jane decided she may as well un-restrict the previous report too, and suddenly, because of the system, she had two sexual-assault cases open from two separate commands, compounding the pressure that was already building inside her.
She said the unspoken message was crystal clear.
“… Again, the lesson was, ‘Don’t ask for help – Ever,’” she said, “You don’t say anything. You ‘man up’. You ‘soldier up.’”
The Reality of Retaliation
According to sexual-assault victims, retaliation in the military takes many forms.
It can appear as an administrative separation, or stalled promotion, negative performance reviews, harassment, ostracism, or involuntary transfers.
These reactions can come from peers and commanders, and victims say as a result, they’re left feeling isolated and unheard.
All of these things can drastically change the experience of military service for survivors, but it doesn’t always happen overnight.
Survivors say sometimes the retaliation is subtle, with gradual changes to the treatment of the service member over time.
She wasn’t told what prompted further investigation, but Jane’s second sexual assault report resulted in a command climate survey, through which multiple other sexual assaults by a single perpetrator were uncovered – yet another shocking reminder of a problem that is all too common in the military.
She said this survey did not do her any favors with her command, who appeared to be searching for a way to push her out of her position.
“It makes you a target when you’re active duty,” she remembered. “My commander was not happy to have me go through that process … I heard rumors that if I didn’t drop it or get a guilty conviction, [they were] going to charge me with adultery for getting raped.”
According to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, a finding of guilt for adultery is grounds for an instant dishonorable discharge.
Jane said the Judge Advocate General officer handling her case recommended signing a declination letter, stating intent to drop the charges – because, as she put it, “it was the best shot of keeping her career.”
Jane was floored by this recommendation. Was this really her best option to save her career? And on that note, why was her career at risk in the first place?
Ultimately, her out-processing was painted to look different than the reality. They buried the truth behind two vague but revealing words: adjustment disorder.
“I had a PTSD diagnosis up until my out-processing meeting. When I went to sign the paperwork, they had changed it to ‘adjustment disorder’.
“I still don’t know exactly what condition it was, but they had kicked out a lot of women for ‘adjustment disorder.’”
This sudden diagnosis didn’t sit right with Jane, an experienced service member.
“I had been in for an entire tour,” she explained, “I had already done four years. So, it wasn’t adjustment to the military environment – they were saying that I hadn’t adjusted to the rape.”
Why Does Retaliation Happen?
According to survivor advocates, military culture often suppresses and discourages disclosures, leaving victims to face disbelief and dismissal when they are brave enough to report harassment or assault.
Victims say that although the experience can feel isolating, the retaliation doesn’t happen in a vacuum — it’s enabled by unit culture and command climate, and informal networks of loyalty and silence, with limited oversight and accountability.
In many cases, abusers face no consequences, while survivors see their entire careers derailed.
According to DOD data, of the 8,195 sexual-assault reports from 2024, 5,169 were unrestricted, with the chain of command immediately notified, while 3,026 were restricted.
All told, only 2,128 of these cases resulted in disciplinary action.
Victims say the hierarchical structure of the military, where everything’s wrapped up with big bows of red tape, makes it difficult to challenge retaliation – especially when it’s subtle or systematic.
The Human Toll
After experiencing a sexual assault in the military – and especially after reporting it and facing retaliation – many survivors continue to be impacted, faced with unemployment, mental health strains, and community isolation.
Some renounce their commitment to the service entirely and return to civilian life – but their wounds don’t heal overnight.
Luckily, Jane said she was able to eventually find the support needed to begin her healing journey, and revealed that her most encouraging experiences have been found in community spaces.
“Having a safe therapist, and going to the women’s [survivor support] group where I could finally just kind of let my guard down, and back-process twenty years of trauma with other women helped,” she said.
Jane also finds the community-oriented, peer support aspect of her network to be the most fruitful in her healing journey – especially when the support group and therapy services aren’t tied to her military career, or VA disability rating.
“When I was in the military, they sent me to a women’s trauma group. But everything you say there is spilled milk. The military is looking for reasons to kick people out. It’s kind of unspoken knowledge that you don’t share openly in the military.”
How can we do better?
According to Jane, a big step in the right direction would be improving systems that tend to lack a trauma-informed approach – whether related to sexual assault or other mental health needs.
In the military, she believes adjustment disorder should not be a diagnosis for anyone who has graduated bootcamp or otherwise risen through the ranks.
She challenges service providers inside the military and in civilian life, to treat survivors like fellow human beings.
“It’s almost like, when they do believe you, they put you in this little glass case, and you become a porcelain doll instead of a human – like you become a symbol of the ‘victim’ instead of a human who had a horrible thing happen and is trying to heal from it.”
She also emphasizes the importance of believing people when they are brave enough to share their truth.
“Getting raped was traumatic, but the part that really did deep, lasting harm was the constant retelling and then not being believed – over and over and over and over again.”
To colleagues, friends, and family of survivors, Jane extends similar advice.
“Just listen. Everyone’s situation is so different. The best thing you can do is just listen when someone shares with you.”
Finally, she encourages people to give survivors the benefit of the doubt, keeping in mind the reality of sexual assault reporting systems in the military.
“What are the odds that thousands of women in the military are lying about something that they know is going to get them kicked out?” she asked, “We all know the military justice system conviction rates are abysmal.
“If you rock the boat, odds are pretty good that you’re going to upset some people, and if they get a conviction out of it, they’re going to go after you – or at least make your life a lot harder.”
A Bright Future
Despite adversities experienced throughout her childhood and adult life, Jane has proven that there is still light at the end of the tunnel. She is married, with a teenage son and four rescue dogs.
She works with animals, volunteers within addiction recovery ministry, and is active in her church, where she found a safe haven after returning to San Angelo.
In the final stretches of homeschooling her son, Jane looks forward to bright days ahead, including potentially going back into cyber security.
A Good Place for People
While she plans to one day move away from San Angelo again, she says it will always feel like home – and like a safe place to heal.
“I think people really look at San Angelo as a dot on a map, or a stopping point on the way to somewhere better,” she said, “But we have this incredible community here, if people will just tap into it.”
Having lived in multiple states across the country, Jane said the San Angelo community is something she hasn’t seen anywhere else.
“Here, even if we don’t agree politically, even if we’re not the same religion, even if we’re not the same class background or race … every time I’ve gone looking for help here, I’ve gotten it,” she said, adding that sometimes help has come from the most unlikely places – like a stranger hugging her on an elevator when she was having a bad day.
Jane encourages residents of San Angelo, with its notable military presence, to remember the things that connect us all – not what divides us.
“People here want to help people,” she said, “And it’s kind of scary to see us starting to lean into our differences. I’m scared that it will fracture the community; that the nonprofits, the churches, all these things will lose their power, because they’ve gotten as far as they have by working together.”
Resources and Support for Survivors
- DOD Safe Helpline: A 24/7 confidential support service for the military community. Offers one-on-one support, peer chat, and local resource lookup. Visit SafeHelpline.org or call 877-995-5247.
- Protect Our Defenders: Offers legal advocacy and support for survivors seeking justice or navigating retaliation. Visit: ProtectOurDefenders.com
- Service Women’s Action Network: Offers advocacy and peer support gor women veterans and service members. Visit: ServiceWomen.org
- Beyond MST App: A free, private mobile app with over 30 tools for coping, healing, and self-care. No account required. Available on Apple IOS and Android.
- Open Arms Advocacy Center: A local rape crisis center offering advocacy, peer support, 24/7 crisis hotline assistance, and licensed counseling to survivors in need. Address: 113 N Harrison St. San Angelo, TX. Or call: 325-655-2000.
- West Texas Counseling and Guidance: Local mental health organization offering trauma-informed mental health services to veterans and their families. Address: 36 E Twohig Ave, San Angelo, TX. Or call 325-944-2561.
