An Enemy Within

• Photographer
  Francois Pesant
• Prizes
  Bronze in Editorial/Photo Essay

Every year, tens of thousands of women and men serving in the US military are raped by brothers in arms. According to the Pentagon, 26,000 soldiers were sexually assaulted in 2012. Of those persons, only 3,374 reported the crime, indicating that the vast majority of victims continue to keep assaults quiet, due to fear of retaliation and mistrust in the military justice system. Indeed, many military sexual trauma survivors are forced out of the military after reporting a rape, which imposes a sudden end to their chosen career, and only 8% of perpetrators are brought to justice.