What is MST?

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) defines military sexual trauma (MST) as sexual harassment that is threatening or physical assault of a sexual nature. These traumas occur when a person is in the military. The location, the genders of the people involved, and their relationship do not matter.

The VA uses the following formal definition taken from Federal law (Title 38 U.S. Code 1720D):

Psychological trauma, which in the judgment of a VA mental health professional, resulted from a physical assault of a sexual nature, battery of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment which occurred while the Veteran was serving on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training.