Media/Arts

The Invisible War: Dark Side of the Military

The Invisible War is a documentary about the epidemic of rape within the U.S. military. The film, a nominee for the 2013 Academy Awards, portrays the extent of the problem: Today, a female soldier in combat zones is more likely to be raped by a fellow soldier than killed by enemy fire.

The Department of Defense estimates there were 22,800 violent sex crimes in the military in 2011. Among all active-duty female soldiers, 20% are sexually assaulted. Female soldiers aged 18 to 21 accounted for more than one-half of the victims.

The Invisible War exposes the systemic cover-up of military sex crimes, chronicling the women’s struggles to rebuild their lives and fight for justice. It also features interviews with high-ranking military officials and members of Congress that reveal the perfect storm of conditions that exist for rape in the military, its long-hidden history, and what can be done to bring about much-needed change.

— Source: PBS