The Dark Side of the Military

The Invisible War: Oscar-Nominated Film Exposes Rape in the Military


Kori is still fighting for medical care to treat injuries suffered while raped in the military.

He hit her so hard in the face years ago, today, Kori’s jaw has not fully healed. Her diet amounts to little more than baby food and yogurt. Kori’s attacker was not a stranger or a scorned, angry lover. The man who beat and raped Kori was a superior officer in the U.S. Coast Guard. Lee, a U.S. Marine, says an outranking male officer put a loaded gun to her head and engaged the bolt before sexually assaulting her repeatedly. Hannah was ignored. “The entire time I was screaming and yelling for help, and for him to stop, nobody came to the door, nobody came to help me,” says Hannah, who was raped by a Naval Officer.

Hanah holds her father tightly. She was a virgin and was raped in the military.

Every branch of the military has a cleaver slogan and commercial selling a dream. For millions of recruits, taking the oath and becoming a veteran equals pride and potential to see the world in a way few ever experience. Sadly, thousands of young women and some men every year fall victim to rape, a sacrifice they never expected to make, entering an invisible war.

In the Oscar-nominated documentary, “The Invisible War,” raw and revelatory testimony from rape victims exposes a cover-your-ass and punish-the-victim military injustice system with a history that dates back nearly 75 years. In this film, you will cry, hope and pray that something good happens for all of the people who spoke up and those who remain silent.

Director, Kirby Dick and producer Amy Ziering masterfully weave compelling interviews, U.S. government statistics, evidence of botched investigations and a crippling military chain of command that appears to serve and protect the guilty.

Your heart sinks when you see victims struggle to tell their horrific stories, testify, and file a class-action lawsuit, aiming for some level of justice and respect. Loss of rank, pay and in some cases medical benefits was the verdict for the victim. There is a chance that change is on the way, as a result of “The Invisible War” catching the attention of politicians and top military brass. For more information, log on to http://www.notinvisible.org/ , where you will see the film’s trailer, the film’s 2013 screening schedule and links to ways you can take action.

What was your experience in the military? Were you ever sexually harassed or assaulted? What happened when you told someone? You can leave your comments on this page annonymously or directly e-mail Maniko Barthelemy at NewsHeels@gmail.com.