We need your help

Military Rape Crisis Center and the National Organization of Women need your support.

BY Melissa O'Brien, Military Rape Crisis Center, April 21th 2009

Boston: The Military Rape Crisis Center and the National Organization for Women (NOW) has been working non-stop in combating sexual assault in the Military. Now it’s your turn to help us out. We have re-introduced the Military Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Response Act (H.R.840) The bill currently has 30 House sponsors and we need to at least triple this number so that the bill can have a committee hearing and proceed to the House floor for a vote. The passage of this legislation is a crucial step towards ensuring the safety and wellbeing of military personnel and their families. 

Read the Bill.

Contact your Elected Officials to make a difference.  

Track the Bill 

Visit NOW website

NOW calls on President to Stop Military Rape

 BY Melissa O'Brien, Military Rape Crisis Center, April 12th 2009

 Washington: The National Organization for Women newest campaign aims to assist us in helping us put an end to sexual assault in the military.NOW President Kim Gandy is ordering President Obama to put an end to this epidemic. We urge immediate sponsorship of the Military Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Response Act (H.R.840).  The bill currently has 30 House sponsors and we need to at least triple this number so that the bill can have a committee hearing and proceed to the House floor for a vote. The passage of this legislation is a crucial step towards ensuring the safety and wellbeing of military personnel and their families, so take action now!

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Free training on Military Sexual Trauma is available in New York City, Seattle, Portland, OR and Boston, MA  email

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Mission Statement

1. Work with Congress to come up with new policies to better serve and protect survivors of Military Sexual Trauma.
2. Assist survivors and their families of Military Sexual Trauma by informing them of various resources available to them.
3. To never betray a fellow brother or sister in uniform.
4. Educate rape prevention professionals on Military Sexual Trauma.

College tells Disabled Veteran, Dean's List student: Get Treatment or Get Out

June 23rd 2009. by Melissa O'Brien

Boston: A student veteran going into her senior year at the University of Massachusetts, Boston had received the following orders from her college: Get treatment at the VA for Military Sexual Trauma Post Traumatic Stress Disorder  or else you can't be a student here. Unless this disabled veteran receives treatment at the Veteran's Administration and gives permission to have her clinician to report to the college they will put a hold on her record  which will not only prevent her from registering for future semesters but will not allow her to continue with her current classes. The hold can only be lifted after the college determines that she is receiving treatment for Military Sexual Trauma.

A volunteer from the Military Rape Crisis Center has contacted the University of Massachusetts, Boston counseling center to discuss Military Sexual Trauma and they are not interested in our complimentary training for working with Military Sexual Trauma survivors. According to Dr. Edna Pressler a printout of the Department of Veteran's Affair website  is distributed to students with Military Sexual Trauma. For a college that present itself as a resource for veterans a printout from a website is not enough.

Since the University's counseling department is so ill equipped to handle veteran specific issues a student with a 3.85 grade point average that never had any disciplinary problems nor was ever a threat to herself or others is being stripped from her rights as a student and a disabled veteran under the Americans with Disabilities Act. While we work on her case she ask that we share this letter with you. 

Marita Labedz Poll, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs/Dean of Students can be reached at: 617-287-5800

If you are a student veteran with Military Sexual Trauma and want to share your experience on returning to school after experiencing Military Sexual Trauma or if you have a question about your rights as a student veteran with a disability that directed from MST email: pb@stopmilitaryrape.org

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Have you been charged for Military Sexual Trauma care at the VA?

BY Melissa O'Brien, Military Rape Crisis Center, May 7th 2009

Chairman Akaka requested a review of MST-related billing at the Austin VA outpatient clinic after receiving a letter from a veteran who discovered she was being inappropriately charged for her care.  VA’s investigation into that facility revealed that the clinic was, in fact, billing veterans inappropriately for MST-related services and prescriptions.  Under existing law, veterans are entitled to free VA treatment for conditions related to military sexual trauma.

“Disabilities resulting from military sexual trauma, physical or invisible, must be treated like other service-connected wounds: VA has an obligation to provide and pay for the care.  I am disappointed to find that at least one outpatient clinic was wrongly charging veterans for this type of care, but I commend VA for immediately launching a national review to determine if this problem is occurring elsewhere, so appropriate corrective actions can take place as soon as possible. 

“The veteran who notified me about this matter has done a great deed for veterans across this nation.  With her help I was able to notify VA’s Inspector General, whose office conducted this very important review,” said Akaka.

VA IG George Opfer notified Akaka of the results of the inquiry in a letter received last week. 

 Military Rape Crisis Center on the web