Independent Lens: The Invisible War

A groundbreaking investigation about one of America’s most shameful and best kept secrets: the epidemic of rape within the U.S. military.

The Department of Defense estimates there were a staggering 22,800 violent sex crimes in the military in 2011. Among all active-duty female soldiers, 20 percent are sexually assaulted. Female soldiers age 18 to 21 accounted for more than half of the victims. Focusing on the powerfully emotional stories of rape victims, The Invisible War, airing Tuesday, March 22, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. on WXXI World,  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 hard-hitting 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.