BIG VOICE MST | Podcast News Update - February 19th

Hi Madvocates, we’re back after a very long bresk. My apologies, I was quite ill for a long time. I had Covid, then an Upper Respiratory infection, the Covid again! Then my super intelligent self decided that getting the flu and Covid vaccine afterward was a great idea. Spoiler alert: It was not!

We are back though, and it time to share some updates with the podcast as well as news about MST and our community of victims, advocates, and survivors.

Our next episode will be starting on February 25, 2025. Our guest is named Brian, and he’s a former U.S. Marine Corps Infantryman. In the clip below, he shares the surreal experience of finding the GQ Article: https://www.gq.com/story/male-rape-in-the-military

So, another thing to bring up is The BIG VOICE. I wanted to bring that back, but with my schedule, adding another set of videos would not be feasible. But blog posts are! So I’ll be sharing a few news stories once a week to update the community on big news concerning MST globally, progress in accountability, and keeping an eye on how the new administration’s changes will affect us.

---

Soldier's tragic inquest sees more than 1,000 military women share stories of rape, abuse and harassment - as Army chief tells senior officers to 'step up'

Daily Mail UK
By Noor Qurashi and Andy Dolan

The head of the Army has written to senior officers condemning 'shameful behaviour' after more than 1,000 women shared stories following the suicide of a teenage soldier.

In a letter seen by MailOnline, General Sir Roly Walker said he was 'disgusted' by new allegations of sexual abuse and that the behaviour does not match 'our values and standards'.

It comes amid an inquest into the death of Gunner Jaysley Beck, 19, who was tragically found dead at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire on December 15 2021.

She had previously complained about the behaviour of a senior colleague who 'pinned her down and tried to kiss her' as well as another 'psychotic and possessive' male colleague who she feared had hacked her phone.

An Army service inquiry report published in October 2023 said it was 'almost certain' an 'intense period of unwelcome behaviour' had been a causal factor in the teenager's death.

Now, hundreds of women have shared stories of being raped, abused and harassed while serving in the military as the inquest into Gunner Beck's death continues.

Posts uploaded anonymously to social media include allegations of women being pinned to the floor by male officers as well as reports of men trying to force their way into their female colleagues' rooms.

Read the article here: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14411121/soldier-inquest-100s-women-stories-sex-abuse.html

---

Soldiers Who Are Domestic Violence Victims

Psychology Today
By Lisa Aronson Fontes Ph.D. and co-authored with Rachel Arment, JD

No one welcomes or invites domestic abuse. Certain life experiences may make a person less likely to recognize it. Our experience suggests that military training, along with childhood abuse, may prime people to suffer intimate partner abuse in silence.

“I can see how a military background, where their intention is to break you down, set me up to accept life with my husband. In bootcamp and as an enlisted person in the army, mistreatment was normal. I was expected to perform well under stress and duress. I did not have much of my identity or self-worth left. When I got together with my abuser, I felt a lot of pride and identity in helping him and his kids. I cooked elaborate meals, made his place into a home, and kept his house clean. I sucked it up when he was nasty, demanding, and unkind.” –A former military service member who became a victim of domestic abuse

Enlistees are generally quite young when they join the military. Their training and early service may be their first job, their first time away from home, and their first time out of the United States, if they ship out. These new experiences come with the expectation of total dedication. Employment is contracted rather than at will. Someone who is kicked out or who chooses to resign is seen as failing in the core values.

Read the article: https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/blog/invisible-chains/202502/soldiers-who-are-domestic-violence-victims

---

Lawmakers want answers on DoD’s pause on sexual assault training

Federal News Network
By Michele Sandiford

House Democrats are pressing the Defense Department about the military services pausing sexual assault prevention and response training programs. In a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the lawmakers said the decision is “not only irresponsible but also dangerous.” The lawmakers also said the law requires providing this training to incoming service members, civilian employees, first responders and staff directly supporting victims. At least some military branches have paused the program as the Defense Department works to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order banning all diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across the government.

Read the SAPR Oversight Letter: https://sarajacobs.house.gov/imo/media/doc/sapr_oversight_letter.pdf
Read the article: https://federalnewsnetwork.com/federal-newscast/2025/02/lawmakers-want-answers-on-dods-pause-on-sexual-assault-training/

---

Alright, that’s our post. Please feel free to share the clip, and tune in on February 25, 2025.