TL;DR:
In 2025, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth introduced a policy requiring “actionable, credible evidence” for assault complaints—without defining what that means. Drawing from the author’s personal experience with Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and the legacy of the Tailhook scandal, this article explores how the new standard silences survivors, undermines justice, and reopens wounds the Pentagon once claimed to be healing.
Military Sexual Trauma. We don’t talk about it enough—but we need to.
I remember the first time I heard the Navy talk about sexual harassment. My Chief looked us all in the eye and said, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.” That was my welcome aboard speech.
So by the time I was assaulted, I knew what to do: shut up and do my job. I pushed it down so deep that for years I told myself it never happened.
The assault had lifelong effects, but what wore me down even more was the daily grind—the gropes, the leers, the power plays, the quiet threats disguised as ‘rides home.’ I kept my head down, worked twice as hard, got the medals and the evals—but every time someone treated me like a thing instead of a sailor, it erased all of that.
And when I got out in 1990, I told myself I’d left all that behind. But nine months later, when the Tailhook scandal hit the news, I wasn’t shocked. I was just angry it took that long.
Which brings us to now. In 2025, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced a new standard for sexual assault and harassment cases: they must include “actionable, credible evidence.” He never defined what that means.
No guidance. No criteria. Just a phrase that sounds official but gives commanders cover to dismiss claims they don’t want to deal with. It’s a return to the same culture I was welcomed into with, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.” It’s policy dressed up as discipline—but it’s really permission to look the other way.
And the cost of that policy? It’s not just about rules—it’s about lives, careers, and trust in the very institution we swore to serve.
How the ‘Credible Evidence’ Rule Hurts Survivors
– MST is already one of the most underreported crimes in the military.
– Trust in leadership is fragile—and erodes faster with every uninvestigated claim.
– RAND data shows MST doubles the odds of early separation and dramatically increases risk for PTSD and suicide.
Hegseth’s Broken Promise on Sexual Assault Reform
Let’s not forget: Pete Hegseth promised Senator Joni Ernst that he would appoint a senior official dedicated to sexual assault prevention.
That never happened. And every survivor who came forward after that promise was left wondering if anyone in leadership was ever serious.
Instead:
– SAPR training was paused to comply with the DEI rollback order
– Prevention staffing was slashed
– Policies redefined retaliation protections narrowly—and left too many behind
Survivors were promised support. They got a spreadsheet—because it’s easier to count victims than to protect them. No senior official. No real plan. Just enough paperwork to say they did something.
What Can Veterans Do?
You’ve got more power than you think. Taking action—documenting your story, filing a report, even just talking about it—is a form of resistance. It’s how we take some control back.
If you or someone you know needs support, the VA offers 24/7 assistance at the Veterans Crisis Line: call 988 and press 1, or visit www.veteranscrisisline.net.
Speaking up doesn’t just help you—it helps the next veteran who’s afraid they’ll be ignored too.
Final Word
This isn’t just about survivors. It’s about all of us—those still serving, those who got out, and those who fought for someone they love. When the system fails one of us, it weakens all of us.
Policies like this are not neutral. They’re decisions with victims—and we need to start naming them that way.
