The numbers are staggering. Nearly 40 percent of the women who assist their country, wear a uniform, and put themselves — selflessly and willingly — in harm’s way, are sexually harassed, assaulted or raped, according to numbers that continue to be assessed by the U.S. Department of the Veterans Affairs. And it has been calculated that one in 20 men serving in the military have also suffered some sort of sexual trauma.
Is there help? Can these men and women go to their VA hospital and get the help they need? Maybe not. According to a 2006 report put out by the Department of Defense, four in 10 women seeking care at VA facilities have experienced sexual trauma.
Military Sexual Trauma (MST) is little known among the civilian world. And it is a hushed secret among active duty personnel. Most women and men are afraid to report the crime. Fear of reprisals is great.
Fortunately, attention is growing. Groups like VetWOW and Pack Parachute Charity, both Washington state organizations, have been established to provide financial assistance to MST victims.
“People need to understand the nature with this trauma,” said Kira Mountjoy-Pepka, Pack Parachute Charity director and Navy Sea Cadet-trained FAA licensed private pilot who resigned in protest from the United States Air Force Academy in 2003 for the way in which the military persecutes victims of sexual assault. Mountjoy-Pepka was responsible for focusing the issue on victims’ First Amendment right to a redress of grievances. Public relations efforts and lobbying with U.S. Congress led to the dismissal of three Air Force Academy generals and as many colonels who were involved in denying their victims’ Constitutional rights.
The Seattle-based Pack Parachute Charity, launched this past July, is an offshoot of those efforts by Mountjoy-Pepka and Susan Avila-Smith, director of Washington state’s VetWOW program.
Both organizations hope to help those with MST find a road to healing: a road fraught with fear and a deep mistrust of the country they once yearned to help.
“A lot of those suffering with MST aren’t even able to do the simple things they need to do, such as hold down jobs, or sign up for counseling,” Mountjoy-Pepka noted.
By helping an MST victim with financial aid — such as providing funds to replace a broken carburetor so that particular woman could go to work — to paying a month’s rent and hooking these injured individuals up with people who can truly help, is the goal of this tax-exempt organization. Donations come from individuals and corporations, but a great deal comes from veterans who want to “pay it forward,” Mountjoy-Pepka said.
Bringing both recognition to those who suffer from MST as well as giving those individuals the honor they deserve, Pack Parachute Charity recently marched in the Veterans Parade in Auburn on Nov. 7.
“The response of those watching us was one I would describe as an attitude of silence,” Mountjoy-Pepka said. “People weren’t sure if they should clap or feel bad. Our intent, by attending that event, was to let those who suffer from MST know they are deeply honored and cared for. Because they are rarely acknowledged by the military community, we want them know they are cherished — not because they fought, but because they refused to give up.”
A following private ceremony, held in Seattle, was attended and supported by many area veteran organizations. Something that deeply touched Mountjoy-Pepka.
“It was so wonderful to have these different organizations come together,” Mountjoy-Pepka said, her voice husky with emotion. “MST victims feel so alienated. The respect shown was beautiful.”
Mountjoy-Pepka had received national recognition for her work in advocating for MST victims and was on the Oprah show two years ago, as well as speaking to other media like Dateline NBC.
“Now, through Pack Parachute Charity, we hope to have more people come alongside to volunteer and to donate funds so we can continue to help those with MST,” Mountjoy-Pepka said. Learn more, visit www.packparachute.org.
What’s with the name?
Pack Parachute is an interesting, arresting title for an organization that assists those suffering from MST. Mountjoy-Pepka came up with the name after getting a ride home from a conference.
“Of course we got to talking about MST. The driver said, ‘Ah. What you are is a parachute packer!”
Entrusted with the very lives of those who will need to use a parachute, ‘packers’ are responsible for makings sure that no detail has been left to chance in the folding and proper care of this devise.
“And that is how we got our name: Pack Parachute Charity. We can be trusted. And we want people to know we won’t let those suffering from MST down.”