The Invisible War

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I was a male rape counselor for two years for a city in California. I am pro-women and have even wrote a book called PEARLS FOR GIRLS IN SEEKING CUPID Don't BE STUPID. I said all that to say this. The world is not ultra friendly in favor of women so that puts the responsibility on men to include them and their welfare along with our own. Therein lies the problem. Men, help themselves to women instead of helping them. Plain and simple. Women also play a role but not as portrayed like asking or wanting to be raped. NO. They fail to listen to their common sense and in some cases find it prudent to go along to survive. There is no formal training on what to do if raped in a state of peace. If they were drugged, its even worse. In civilian life, bringing a perpetrator to justice harms the victim more than the defendant. One trial I attended just smeared the woman who was drugged. I applaud them for surviving and then having to endure the aftermath both public and private. In the world of the military, if a commanding officer says to do or not do, then it is law. So how come rape exists? If I was a colonel, I would have everyone assembled and make this announcement. The first time I hear of any sex complaints involving any of you, I will end your life as you know it. This is your heads-up. After this, heads roll. Dismissed! Then, all officer and non-coms are to support that right down to where they all live and breath. The weeding out of the trouble-makers is commands responsibility. I will say this too because it has to be said. Please, no arguments either. The idea of women in the military may work if isolated and directed. This coming together is asking for trouble similar to letting to teen-age kids date alone. I stayed on Camp Lejeune base for a week. All I saw was walking talking testosterone "on" trained killers with nothing to do. If we had an enemy at the time, the Marines would kill them all just to release their pent-up training, egos, hormones and purposes. Barring that, there were fights, drinking and other things that free time with nothing to do brings about. Having women in this situation is not smart unless training, direction, instruction and correction is strictly enforced. If a military female was taken captive by enemy forces, history teaches that they are the spoils of war. The military itself sees it as a calculated risk of which I report with sadness. I'm sorry but it is true. Yet, I would fight to the death to prevent that happening or to effect a rescue because it is the right thing to do. If one of us was captured and tortured, then all of us suffer until it is corrected. The idea of preying on a someone who is on the same side is revolting. Thank you for this fine reporting of a most delicate subject matter. One very important last thing. Those that are in power, who can shake and move and make changes need to take clear and precise action. If this is going on during your watch, you are part of it. Yes, YOU ARE

I've watched this documentary three times now, and I found myself losing no amount of shock or horror with each new viewing. This is how I know The Invisible War is such a good film: it doesn't get old, it can't get boring, and it won't become unimportant. Everything about this film was masterfully crafted to display its message, but it helps that the message is so powerful on its own. I'd challenge you to find someone who will openly say sexual assault, harassment, and rape are not a big deal. Collectively, Western society agrees that it is morally wrong; but people are surprisingly reluctant to admit it is very common, rather than some horrible heinous act that happens once in a blue moon to unlucky ladies. It's estimated that one in four to six women will experience sexual assault in their life time (based on the women I know personally, this holds up). I'd slap a few more statistics down about the general population's rate of abuse if this documentary were about your common American city. It looks instead at a much more toxic environment with massively inflated numbers of sexual abuse victims: the United States military. We're recounted the tales of several abuse victims, mostly women, as they discuss their experiences in the Navy, the Coast Card, the Army, the Air Force, you name it. Their stories are all incredibly similar: they come to proudly serve their country, work hard to prove they can work alongside the guys, form a strong bond of trust with their teammates, and quickly learn just how little that trust means to a few predatory men. Most end their service with a few of the following: severe injuries from the attack, pregnancies, STDs, convictions of adultery, an inability to form close bonds ever again, and of course severe PTSD. Many, if not all, attempt suicide and struggle with lifelong depression and anxiety. We're taken through in-depth accounts of several victims and the stark differences between their lives before and after their service. The high rate of sexual assault within the military is not surprising, given the culture of hyper-masculinity necessitated for war. What IS surprising is how little military officials and higher-ups do to aid victims and punish perpetrators. The film explores the complex hierarchy struggles that allow for this abuse of power (many of the rapists are commanding officers) and the lack of support given to victims after the fact. Injuries attained from other servicemen are not covered by military health care or subsidies, for instance. So these people are violently assaulted, causticly dismissed when they ask for help, watch the perpetrators walk free to repeat offend, given no honorable discharge when they leave, and not even given coverage for their mental and physical health costs. The film allows for no confusion about the stance the military representatives take on sexual assault: dismissiveness. Interviews with committee members utilized in the film reveal how the logic of their inaction is built on old, well-liked lies. It does end on a positive note: people are beginning to take action, largely because of the attention this documentary has gotten. Steps are very slowly being taken to protect the people who protect us.

What I saw on this Doc is a National Disgrace, and I can imagine what women and certain men also endure in foreign occupations. So girls...as I see it, the only way you're going to have a career in the military is to be tall, muscular, have a black belt in martial arts, carry a concealed knife or other blunt object and not be afraid to smash a chair over a drunk's head or crash your booted foot across his face. No make-up or revealing clothes...please. Never, ever drink in a military man's presence and if forced to then carry a secret empty container in your pocket in which to pour your shots and then off to the toilet. The military is no dream job and unless you can face the truth stay in a civilian home girl's job. You were accepted into the military because it needs meat to throw to the hungry predators. Wake up and get some street smarts and so sorry. Keep on fighting for your rights, but accept the truth about humans because they are capable of ANYTHING.

In the United States Military, each branch of the armed services has an honor code that belies the ideals of principle, courage, and integrity that they strive to instill on each respective serviceman. The Air Force has "We will not lie, steal, or cheat, nor tolerate among us anyone who does." The other services all have something similar to this that are spoken in the form of an oath when a serviceman is commissioned to be an officer. This movie shows how this code can be disregarded in the most horrendous ways. The fact that this is still a problem for the woman and men of the armed forces is a stain on our country's honor. There shouldn't be any fear of rape or assault by a fellow recruit, serviceman, or officer in a woman's—or man's—mind when he or she enters the organization that is responsible for our very safety. Due to this movie as well as the actions and voices of victims, supporters and policy makers, real change is starting to happen. Personally speaking, the movie is very professionally made, engaging, and eye opening. All the claims they make are well supported by evidence and statistics, and the call for reform and change is a powerful message that is finally beginning to be heeded. I would highly recommend anyone that interested in the armed services, both male and female, should watch this movie. The message conveyed is a somber and important one. That said, I am not asserting that one shouldn't join the armed forces because of this problem, simply that anyone interested should make an informed decision on what they are getting into. This problem is being addressed, and hopefully in the future this problem will disappear completely.

"We are always told the armed forces will be our protection but this film shows that these people who protect us need as much probably even more protection then us from these evil people who never get punished" The Air Force, Army and Navy are created in order to defend and protect a nation but the men who run these organisations are very corrupt especially when it comes to reports from women and sometimes men who say they were rapped. The film focus's in on specific women/men who have reported rape but there are many more reported as the film does say to inform the viewer that there are some horrible men out there who never take responsibility for their actions. There are always two sides to every story I always say and this film presents us with the victim side of the story which most of the time is never believed and in some of these cases the accusation should almost be believed but is not. The film does present the side of the victim only because that is the aim of the film, they want us to feel sympathy towards these victims making the sexual assaulter's almost pure evil which in some of these cases they should be called. The film does speak to some high ranking people who see the justice system of the armed forces as being not as good as it could be especially when dealing with some of these cases. I always feel sympathy towards women who have been raped and it was hard to watch because I believed nearly every accusation because women would never want to lie about getting assaulted. The main victims in the film are the ones that I believed the most because they seemed very shaken by the act. Kori Cioca seemed to start and end the story of the film as we saw her struggle with her injury but also have problems at home with her husband it seemed. Also i felt sorry for her because of how her story seemed too detail to be untrue which made me really want that person responsible for her assault to get charged somehow. All the stories were hard to hear and the film was smart to not just focus on women's problems but also in small scenes with men who were assaulted. The film was great in showing us the inner war of these organisations and how more needs to be done when fixing the many problems that there are. MOVIE GRADE: B

The Invisible War (2012) **** (out of 4) Terrific documentary from Kirby Dick (THIS FILM IS NOT YET RATED) taking a look at women and men in the military who are raped but their reports get covered up by their officials. THE INVISIBLE WAR is a pretty shocking and haunting documentary. It's not like this is the first film to deal with women getting raped and people turning away when it comes time to report it. What's so shocking is that so many of these cases were rather open and shut in regards to the accused really being guilty yet this still wasn't enough for them to be punished in any way, shape or form. Even more shocking is when you see how many cases are reported but then you have to consider how many women (and men) are raped but don't report it due to fear or them just thinking nothing is going to be done (which is obviously happening). Several years ago I watched a documentary on women in college who get raped and those numbers were also shocking so it's rather sad to see how many cases are out there in all walks of life but nothing appears to be getting done about it. The stories here are quite haunting including one where a victim had to call her father and tell him what happened. As a film I had to use the word "entertaining" when it comes to rape but it's clear that the director knows how to tell a story and he certainly gets his point and message across. THE INVISIBLE WAR takes a look at an ugly subject matter but it's extremely well-made and worth watching.

'THE INVISIBLE WAR': Four and a Half Stars (Out of Five) Heartbreaking documentary about sexual assault in the United States military and how it effects the soldiers involved (as well as their loved ones). It deals with ongoing unresolved cases and interviews victims of assault as well as military personnel, law makers, family members and others. The film was written and directed by filmmaker Kirby Dick (who also helmed the critically acclaimed 2006 documentary 'THIS FILM IS NOT YET RATED' and many others). The movie is extremely hard to sit through and watch and that's how you know it's so effective. The film centers on a handful of sexual assault victims who are interviewed about their assault (or assaults in most cases) as well as joining the military, events leading up to the crime(s) and their troubles finding justice afterwards. It addresses many of the reasons why most victims can't find any sympathy or justice within the military system and argues that these cases should be handled outside their military units. Often the commanders investigating the cases are either friends with the suspect or the suspect being accused themselves. The film provides many shocking statistics and goes over the history of the problem in the military, which has been going on for multiple decades now. The filmmakers interview both female and male victims (which are frequently raped in the military as well). The documentary is one of those films that's hard to review and rate because it's not entertaining or inspiring in any way (as it very much shouldn't be). It's extremely painful to watch and it's definitely not a film I can say I liked or enjoyed. That's how I know it's a great film though. It's disturbing, informative and also very emotional. The testimony by the victims and their friends and family members is gut wrenching. Many of those being interviewed are often very open in their discussion of the subject matter and have a very hard time holding it together emotionally. The film feels very honest and genuine above all else. It's definitely a well made documentary as well as a very important and informative one. It's of course not one anyone will look forward to (or enjoy) watching but it's one that should be seen by most everyone, all the same. Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOMEqlGt6m4

Kirby Dick's The Invisible War is an unsettling and scathing examination of sexual assault within branches of the US military (the Army, Marines, Air Force, etc.) that dives into its topics with various levels of emotional involvement. The interviews of the victims are raw, unfiltered, and unflinching, and are, indeed, very tragic. To also see the corruption and lengths to cover up and distract from the truth – such as unintentionally hilarious commercials advising about assault in the army – is practically infuriating. Kirby Dick makes for a strong interviewer, nailing his topics, letting the victims speak their mind, and leaving the guilty parties shaking in their boots, trying and failing miserably to lie through their teeth. Emotions will be put to a workout. ****1/2 out of *****