Article Title: Military Sexual Trauma Among US Servicewomen During Deployment: A Qualitative Study Article Date: February 2014 Source (attach copy of the article): Burns, B., Grindlay , K., Holt, K., Manski, R., & Grossman, D. (2014). Military sexual trauma among US military women during deployment: A qualitative study. American Journal of Public Health, 104(2), 345-349. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1499845673?accountid=12387 ARTICLE SUMMARY: In surveys referenced in the article, there is evidence of an increase in military sexual trauma among women during and after deployment military of unwanted sexual contacts in recent years. The authors recruited and conducted telephone interviews with twenty-two U.S. military women from May 2011 to January 2012 to participate in a qualitative study with or without their MST experiences. They asked participants questions regarding MST during implementation and other factors that disrupt their reporting and access to offender services. Issues of sexism, high levels of stress, and failed military leadership contribute to putting these servicewomen at risk for STDs. Some of the women interviewed said that women in the service do not report STDs due to lack of support from colleagues, unreliable confidentiality, stigma and other barriers. Respondents feel more comfortable opening medical care services after U.S. missions dealing with sexual assault cases than during global missions. Participants suggested improving MST services: increasing awareness, prosecution, investigations, cultural change and independence of service providers. Interviewees acknowledged that military service...... the focus of the document ...... on sexual violence is not a top priority issue for the American public today. Personal observations/reactions to reading: My personal reaction is that I commend these women respondents for participating in the study to uncover new information and data on what emerges regarding sexual assault among women in the military that has been going on for decades. It shows how the justice system regarding sexual violence is broken and needs to hold perpetrators who carry out these horrific sexual criminal acts more accountable. I thank my United States Senator in New York, Kirsten Gillibrand, for proposing the Military Justice Improvement Act to support survivors of sexual violence to receive the justice they deserved. I hope that US military women will fearlessly face the obstacles they face against military sexual assault and bring justice with all its might.