Going through abuse in the military is quite different than going through it in the civilian world. My ex-husband was a U.S. Marine. Most of the women I came into contact with were the wives or girlfriends of Marines. Domestic abuse in the military is rampant and, in my opinion, a problem that the military tends to ignore, or gloss over.
At the end of my marriage, I went to my ex-husband's command and told them, among other things, that I was afraid of him and wanted him out of the house. The told me they would issue a MPO (Military Protective Order). I stupidly assumed this was the same as a civilian restraining order. I assumed that it would go on his record. Well, in the past few days while doing research for this site, I came across some things that shocked me, taught me something, and made a few things very clear to me.
I also took to his command proof in the form of emails that he was having an affair with a female Marine, while they were in Iraq. My ex never got in trouble over it and neither did she. He was an exemplary Marine. One of the best trouble shooters in his field. I can only assume that had something to do with it.
I hope that this page helps some other military partner NOT be hoodwinked like I feel I was.
Military Protective Orders (MPO'S)
An MPO is similar to a restraining order in some ways, but also has some major differences to take note of. In both the military and the civilian world, a protective order requires your abuser to stay away from you and to stop abusing you. However, an MPO can not be enforced by a civilian court and civilian police can not enforce an MPO.
An MPO may:
Prohibit the subject from having face to face, telephone, or written contact with the victim, including those conducted through third parties.
Bar the subject from designated areas or places, such as military family housing, the family home off the installation, schools, place of employment, child development centers, and youth programs.
Require a service member who is the subject of the MPO to move into government quarters.
Require the subject to leave any public place if the victim is in the same location or facility.
Require the subject to do certain activities or refrain from doing certain activities.
Require the subject to attend counseling.
In the cases of MPO's, a commanding officer decides whether or not one is needed. He or she can issue a verbal or written one. If you are denied an MPO, or disagree with the commanding officer's decision, there is no appeal process. However, whoever you report abuse to, except for a base chaplain, is required to report it to the Family Advocacy Program. Please check the bottom of this page for a list of FAP's for one in your area.
PLEASE NOTE:
An MPO is only enforceable while the service member is attached to the commander that issued the order. When the service member is transferred, the order will no longer be valid. If circumstances warrant the continuation of the MPO, the commander who issued the MPO should contact the new commander to advise him or her of the MPO.
Civilian abusers cannot be subject to MPOs. They may only be subject to a civil protection or restraining order issued by a state or tribal court. However, a commanding officer may order that the civilian abuser stay away from the base or installation.
MPO's may often be issued verbally- make sure that you get your MPO in writing from the commanding officer so that you can have it with you at all times.
IF YOU GET AN MPO, CONTACT THE CIVILIAN AUTHORITIES AND GET A CIVILIAN PROTECTIVE ORDER AS WELL. IF YOUR ABUSER VIOLATES THE MPO, CONTACT THE MILITARY POLICE. IF YOU ARE OFF BASE, CALL 911.
Domestic Violence in the Military Statistics
These numbers are estimates. Many military spouses do not report abuse and many commanders simply give a verbal MPO and nothing comes of it. Because of this, the numbers may be much higher than stated below. As soon as I can find more recent statistics I'll update this page.
Recent estimates suggest that domestic violence in the military rose from 18.6 per 1000 in 1990 to 25.6 per 1000 in 1996.
On average each fiscal year from 1990 to 1996, 23.2 per 1000 spouses of military personnel experienced a violent victimization. -FY90-96, Spouse & Child Maltreatment, Department of Defense.
In FY 2001, 18,000 reported cases of spouse abuse occurred involving military personnel. 11,000 were substantiated, rate of substantiated aggression of 16.5 per 1000. -Symposium on DV Prevention Research, 2002
The demographic characteristics of victims indicates that the victim is predominantly female, civilian spouse of active duty personnel who are, on average slightly less than 25 years old. The spouse abuse victims have children (78%) and more than half have been married for two years or less. Fifty-two percent of the victims live off the installation. -Abuse Victims Study, DoD, 1994 and Final Report on Spouse Abuse, Caliber Associates, 1996
The predominant type of substantiated spouse abuse is physical abuse. 85 percent of the abuse is physical abuse. -Final Report on Spouse Abuse, Caliber Associates, 1996
Of the substantiated cases in 2001, 57% involved mild abuse; 36%, moderate; and 7%, severe. -Symposium on DV Prevention Research, 2002
Offenders are somewhat less likely to be promoted and somewhat more likely to be separated from the Service. The fear of negative consequences is probably out of proportion to the true impact. -Abuse Victims Study, DoD, 1994
75 to 84 percent of alleged offenders are honorably discharged. -Abuse Victims Study, DoD, 1994
Although data is hard to obtain, it is apparent that relatively few military personnel are prosecuted or administratively sanctioned on charges stemming from domestic violence. -Initial Report of the Defense Task Force on Domestic Violence, 2001
Less than 7 percent of spouse abuse cases are adjudicated by court-marital. -Symposium on DV Prevention Research, 2002
Rates of marital aggression are considerably higher than civilian rates, double, three to five times. -The War At Home, 60 Minutes, January 17, 1999; Heyman and Neidig. (1999). A comparison of spousal aggression prevalence rates in U.S. Army and civilian representative samples. Journal of Consulting and Clinicial Psychology, 67 (2), 239-242; Gelles, Sixty Minutes Battered the Truth, OpEd, Washington Times, 1999; Rosen, Brennan, Martin, and Knudson. (August'02). Intimate Partner Violence and US Army Soldiers in Alaska, Military Medicine; The War At Home, 60 Minutes, September 1, 2002.
Domestic violence homicides in the military community include: Navy or Marine Corps: 12 in FY 99; 54 since FY 95, Army: 32 in FY 99; 131 since FY 95, Air Force: 4 in FY 99; 32 since FY95. - Initial Report of the Defense Task Force on Domestic Violence, DoD, 2001
Recent estimates suggest that sexual assault in the military is experienced by 9 to 4 percent of female service members, depending upon the service branch. An earlier study conducted by the Defense Manpower Center indicated that 5 percent of female respondents and 1 percent of male respondents were victims of actual or attempted rape. -Department of Defense Sexual Harassment Survey, 1995
8 percent of female Persian Gulf War veterans in a survey reported being sexually abused during Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
30 percent of female veterans in a recent survey reported rape or attempted rape during active duty.
37 percent of women who reported a rape or attempted rape had been raped more than once; 14 percent of the victims reported having been gang raped.
The number of cases treated at VA Sexual Trauma Centers include over 22,000 male victims and over 19,000 female victims of sexual trauma. -Veterans' Millennium Health Care Act, Preliminary Findings
3/4ths of the female veterans who were raped did not report the incident to a ranking officer. 1/3rd didn't know how to; and 1/5th believed that rape was to be expected in the military. Women who served in Gulf War I were the only group that did not consider rape to be an expected part of military life.
The Family Advocacy Program
The Family Advocacy Program (FAP) is "a command support program with responsibility for addressing family violence in military families, through prevention efforts, early identification and intervention, support for victims, and treatment for abusers." FAP, which includes clinically licensed professionals trained in family violence, is responsible for ensuring victim safety and access to support and advocacy services, and that abusers receive appropriate intervention services. DOD policies and FAP standards require coordination between FAP, law enforcement, and commanders to ensure program effectiveness. All active duty members of the military, family members or civilian employees are required to report abuse to their base FAP. To find the Family Advocacy Program in your area contact the PMO (Provost Marshall's Office) or check out Military Homefront.
