We know how difficult reaching out for help can be, and we want to take a moment to acknowledge all you have been through and what you are seeking to do given what you have experienced.
While we are so glad that you are on your journey towards finding supportive services, unfortunately, the statute of limitations for rape in the military is 5 years for incidents that occurred before 1986. Only rape cases fitting a specific definition limited to penile penetration of a vagina that occurred after 1986 and before 2006 don’t have a statute of limitations (“rape” was redefined in 2006 to include a broader definition of what constitutes a penetrative sexual assault).. Given this, we are unable to assist you with your case. Again, we can only imagine what you have gone through, and please know that we take your experience seriously and regret that we are not able to offer direct help.
In case it may be helpful to you, the VA provides free treatment for any physical or mental health conditions related to your experiences of military sexual trauma. You don’t need to have reported the military sexual assault at the time or have other proof that the military sexual assault occurred to get care. Learn more about what services you might be eligible for and how to begin the process of getting treatment here.
The Cohen’s Veteran Network specializes in providing accessible mental health care to Active Duty service members, post-9/11 veterans, and dependents. In order to apply, we would encourage you to submit an online application. Though not located in all 50 states, resources and other forms of assistance may be provided to you through inquiry.
We encourage you to visit the Survivor Support Network, which we have set up to help survivors locate services that may be helpful, including counseling, support groups, and legal services.
There are organizations and elected officials who are working to change the processes and statutes with regard to bringing claims against an individual or institution. For example, in 2019 the New York state legislature signed into law the Child Victims Act, and last year, they signed into law the Adult Survivors Act (ASA), that Protect Our Defenders was proud to endorse. While we understand how frustrating the military justice process is, we want you to know that every year organizations like ours are relentlessly pursuing reform. If you would like to be kept up to date on our progress, you can do so through signing up for our newsletter. You may also wish to share your story on our website.
*Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.