Abused, raped, ignored: how ‘invisible’ female British military veterans are fighting back

A new strategy will provide support for the high numbers of female veterans who have experienced sexual trauma. Photograph: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Jennifer joined the Royal Navy at the age of 29. She became an aircraft engineer, winning awards. Two years after signing up, in 2006, she was raped and she was raped again in 2011. She didn’t report either attack, she says, because she didn’t want to risk ­losing her career.

In 2014, she was sexually assaulted by her superior officer and, this time, decided to report the offence. “I tried to make light of it, and move on again… but it wasn’t working.”