Quaker House, based in Fayetteville, N.C., offers counseling and support to members of the armed forces questioning their role in the military; it educates them, their families, and the public about military-related issues; and it advocates for a peaceful world.
The war in Ukraine, attacks in the Middle East, and continued partisanship in the United States challenge military participants, their families, and veterans. The shrinking military and failure to meet recruiting numbers are increasing the stress on those who are joining the military. Quaker House seeks to help members resist the pressure to recruit while addressing the pressure to continue military participation.
Sexual assault in the military continues to be a troubling issue, with recent efforts focused on prevention, including the SHARP program (Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention) instituted in 2008. But even so, the U.S. military saw a 1 percent increase in sexual assaults in 2022, according to the Pentagon’s latest annual report, released in September 2023. In December, Quaker House participated in an event at nearby Fort Liberty that connected military leadership, Victim Advocates, and SARCs (sexual assault response coordinators) with community organizations and agencies that can assist with resources for victims. Quaker House is one of those organizations, providing trauma counseling services to civilian victims of soldier sexual assault.
Comments on Friendsjournal.org may be used in the Forum of the print magazine and may be edited for length and clarity.