Military Sexual Trauma (MST)

Veteran Affairs (VA) considers MST to be sexual assault or sexual harassment, which occurs during military service.  A perpetrator of MST can be a man, woman, fellow service member, civilian, stranger, friend, or intimate partner.  Moreover, an MST event can happen while a person is on or off duty and can be located both on or off base.

To understand the number of people affected, VA Healthcare does universal screening and has found that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 100 men have experienced MST.  Though the percentage of women who report incidents is higher, the actual total number of men who have experienced MST is far greater because there are more males in the military. Just under 40% of all MST survivors treated by the VHA are men. In addition, the far-reaching repercussions of MST are demonstrated by the sheer volume of veterans who seek medical care from the VA.

The Nevada Department of Veterans Services in partnership with the Perry Foundation provides Military Sexual Trauma conferences each year.  For additional information visit: www.veterans.nv.gov

If you would like to file a service-connected disability claim for MST or need additional assistance/information, contact one of the Nevada Department of Veterans Services at: https://veterans.nv.gov/benefits-and-services/veterans-service-officers-contact/ to speak to a Veterans Service Officer.

An MST claim needs supporting evidence. Below are some of the documents, you may consider submitting to support your MST claim.

• Discharge papers
• Diagnosis of mental health condition from a healthcare provider such as PTSD, anxiety, or depression
• Medical opinion from doctor linking current mental health condition to MST in-service event
• Statements from fellow service members, roommates, friends, family, counselors, and clergy
• Official reports documenting the assault: law enforcement authorities, rape crisis centers, mental health counseling centers, hospitals, physicians, pregnancy tests, and tests for sexually transmitted diseases
• Incident dates, locations, and names of people involved

Other Resources

VA MST Information – Treatment and Resources
Local VA Medical Center MST Coordinator
Local Vet Center or the 24-hour call center 1-877-927-8387
Military OneSource “Getting Help with Relationship Sexual Abuse”
What You Should Know If You Are a Military Sexual Trauma Survivor
Make the Connection (Find MST related videos where survivors and family members share their stories)
DoD Safe Helpline (Active Duty) 877-995-5247
Veterans Crisis Line 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1
National Sexual Assault Hotline 800-656-4673

DoD Resources

Nevada National Guard

• JFHQ – State Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC) 775-384-5840
• 152D AW Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program Manager 775-240-5922
• Army National Guard Victim Advocate 775-971-6075