My name is Jennifer Dyer, and I am a 1^st Lieutenant in the New Jersey Army National Guard.  I enlisted in the National Guard in July of 1996 and served five years in Company A of the 250^th Signal Battalion where I earned 3 Army Achievement Medals, the Army Service Ribbon, NJ Good Conduct Ribbon, NJ Merit Award with 5 devices, and the NJ State Service Award.  I served on State Active Duty for Y2K operations, Hurricane Floyd Emergency Assistance, and September 11^th Emergency Response as well as volunteered in many other civic and community events.  My service to the nation and the State of New Jersey was concurrent with a full civilian work schedule and full-time attendance at Rowan University where I achieved Dean’s List status on at least three occasions as well as served as the President and Public Relations Chair of the Alpha Delta Epsilon Sorority.

In December of 2000, I was nominated, interviewed and selected to attend Officer Candidate School in Sea Girt, New Jersey.  Upon completion of the 16-month training program and graduation from Rowan University, I received my commission as a Second Lieutenant in the National Guard and was again assigned to the 250^th Signal Battalion. 

In July of 2001, I volunteered to participate in a three week Joint Reserve Training Commission rotation with the Headquarters Company of the 250^th Signal Battalion where I was presented with a Battalion Coin for my service.  Shortly following this exercise, I attended the Signal Officer’s Basic Course in Fort Gordon, GA where I excelled both academically and physically.  I then returned to New Jersey where I was quickly transferred back to Company A of the 250^th Signal Battalion and served as a Platoon Leader.

I was hired as a Salem County Sheriff’s Officer in February of 2003.  I then attended the Gloucester County Police Academy where I graduated 3^rd academically in my class.  However, the accomplishment of this life long goal and the beginning of a demanding career in law enforcement detracted from my availability for service within the New Jersey Army National Guard.

So, in August of 2003, I verbally resigned my commission to my Company Commander who stated that I needed to address my situation to the Battalion Commander.  In September of 2003, I verbally resigned my commission to the Battalion Commander who stated that he was about to change command and that I needed to address the incoming commander.  So, in October of 2003, I formally resigned my commission to the new Battalion Commander.

However, in March of 2004, I received notification from the military that my resignation was not fully processed by my unit and that I needed to return to duty for deployment.  The validity of this recall was highly questionable and I requested a Congressional inquiry through the office of Congressman Frank LoBiondo.  Despite the promise of my unit and Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Loretta Thomas, to proceed with my resignation and separation, I was placed on mobilization orders and relocated to Camp Shelby, MS for training.  The Congressional inquiry has yet to be successful in even receiving a valid response from the New Jersey Army National Guard in reference to my situation. Due to the lack of response and cooperation from the military in this matter, I had resolved to perform my duties with the military with little hope that a resolution would be reached prior to my deployment overseas.

My recent situation has become much more grave and cannot be ignored nor brushed aside as my initial complaint had been. On August 8, 2004, a fellow Lieutenant at Camp Shelby raped me.  I immediately reported the incident and received emergency room treatment that to the best of my knowledge only consisted of a forensic rape kit.  Following my discharge from the hospital, I was secluded in a motel room on Camp Shelby where I was unable to make or receive phone calls for approximately two days.  During this time, I endured an approximately 5-hour interview conducted by CID Agent Eric Barreras (334-763-0684) and prepared a statement approximately 18 pages long.  I was then told that I was not to speak about the incident to anyone until the investigation was complete. I was not told definitively how long the investigation would last. I was able to secure and utilize my cellular phone on August 10^th when I received a phone call from my fiancé who told me at that time that he had been notified of the details of the assault by the investigating authorities.  Agent Barreras had questioned him as to any relationship problems or possible motives that I may have had for filing the report.

I spent the next two and a half days secluded in my room with no follow-up care or means of communication other than my personal cellular phone which receives spotty, at best, reception at Camp Shelby.  During this time, I attempted to obtain a copy of the police report and my sworn statement from the Provost Marshall’s office and was told that I would have to request that information from the CID as they were handling the case.  I then attempted to receive additional follow-up care from the Forrest General Hospital in the form of a “morning after” pill and was told that despite statements made by emergency room staff during my initial visit, that they could not assist me.  I additionally sought assistance from the 278^th Regimental Judge Advocates office and was told that there was nothing further that I could do in regard to the case and that it would be the decision of the Commander as to whether or not any charges would be pressed.  I was advised that an attorney was not necessary and could not be appointed to me at that time.  Following all of my inquiries, I was not contacted by any medical or counseling services.

On August 12^th, I was again contacted by Agent Barreras who read to me my Miranda rights before he proceeded to threaten me with charges of making a false police report. He berated me for approximately three hours as to whether or not my report was factual.  In response to this questioning, I prepared an additional multiple page statement.  I was made to feel as if I should have never reported the incident at all and that I was the offending party as opposed to the victim in this case.

I then requested a copy of each of the statements that I had made and was told by Agent Barreras that I was not entitled to these documents for fear that I may distribute the information to another person.

Following this interview, I discovered, through unofficial channels, that the offender had a history of genital herpes. Extremely distraught and with no support to turn to, I then immediately proceeded to the Troop Medical Clinic on Camp Shelby to inquire about STD / pregnancy testing and treatment.  I very briefly spoke with Lieutenant Colonel Powell (601-467-1107), the post psychiatrist.  She stated that I would have to wait two weeks for a follow-up medical exam and inquired as to the progress of my counseling. When I informed her that no counseling had been scheduled by the hospital, only then did she provide me with an appointment to attend the local civilian operated counseling center in Hattiesburg, MS (601-264-7777).

On August 13^th, my fiancé arrived at Camp Shelby and immediately took me to the local counseling session as well as assisted in arranging a medical exam through a civilian health provider, the Women’s Health Center in Hattiesburg, MS (601-544-4550), since the military was unwilling to promptly assist me in this matter. The blood test taken at this facility confirmed the presence of Herpes Type 2.

With the assistance of the 278^th RCT chaplain, Major Cruz (601-467-2016), and the recommendation from Lt Colonel Powell, I was granted “at least two weeks” convalescent leave to begin on August 16^th, but told that if I wanted to return home to my family for this time, that I would have to pay for the airline ticket.  This leave was approved by Lieutenant Colonel Waddle, the Deputy Executive Officer of the 278^th Regiment, and granted by Captain Ray (601-558-4513), 278^th Regimental Headquarters Troop Commander with the stipulation that I telephonically check in every day.

I returned to New Jersey on the night of August 16^th and was contacted on the afternoon of the 17^th by a Camp Shelby medical official, Major Sullivan (601-297-4229), who began to question why I was not already in counseling in New Jersey and inquired as to “what took me so long” to begin the counseling.  That afternoon, I had contacted the Atlantic County Women’s Center (609-646-6767) and was told that the earliest appointment available was on Monday, August 23^rd.  I had also contacted my local medical physician, Dr. Gewirtz (609-625-1600) and was able to receive an appointment for the 23^rd. I attended the counseling and the doctor’s appointment.  I am scheduled for a necessary medical follow-up for lab work and possible immediate treatment and was told to call again to schedule another appointment for counseling.  I did so and was scheduled for the next available counseling session to be held on the following Monday, August 30 and the next available medical visit for Wednesday, September 1^st.  I explained to the doctor that my leave was scheduled to expire prior to that and he stated that it was only logical to extend the leave time and or transfer me to a local duty station or be discharged so that I may receive continued and appropriate care.  He also annotated in my medical file the importance of continued emotional counseling.

I have since requested an extension of my convalescent leave to accommodate the scheduled treatment and inquired as to the possibility of a transfer from the unit and location in which the assault occurred.  Both of these requests have been vehemently denied and I have been ordered to report to Camp Shelby for duty no later than Monday, August 30, 2004. When contacted in reference to the need for an extension and my emotional and mental inability to return to the scene of the crime at this time, I was told by Lt. Colonel Powell that two weeks was a generous amount of time for leave and that it is enough time for a victim of such a crime to be recovered and returned to duty.  She stated that within 2-6 weeks, I would be fine and that she could not extend my leave beyond the two weeks.  I then made it very clear that I would not be able to perform my duties in my current condition and inquired as to the possibility of a separation from the military.  Lt. Colonel Powell then told me that my situation did not warrant a separation and that I needed to contact Major Sullivan in reference to my status for deployment.

Upon contacting Major Sullivan, I was told that I had no options other than to return to duty at Camp Shelby and that they had no flexibility in this matter.  She stated that she is a medical doctor and that I am fine. She also told me that if I did not return to Camp Shelby by Monday, she would have the Military Police arrest me and place me in prison.  She then referred me to my Commander and stated that any further decisions would have to be made by the command. I then contacted the Regimental Headquarters Troop Commander, Captain Ray who stated that he was only able to follow the recommendations of  Lt. Colonel Powell and that he did not have the authority to extend my leave.

Following my conversation with Captain Ray, I received a phone call back from Major Sullivan who continued to address me in a very rude and uncaring manner and told me that if I did not accept the order to return to duty as usual at Camp Shelby that she could have me committed to the mental health hospital in Fort Gordon, Georgia.  I felt that this was an unacceptable response from a doctor toward someone who is a rape victim and I told Major Sullivan that I felt it inappropriate that she insinuates that I need inpatient psychiatric care.  At that time, Major Sullivan hung up on me and did not contact me again.

Later that same evening, I received a phone call from another Lieutenant Colonel who stated that he was the 3^rd Squadron Commander and was filling in for the Regimental commander in his absence.  He stated that he had been asked by the chaplain to call me.  He then proceeded to tell me that there was to be no flexibility on the part of the command in reference to an extension of my leave time and that it was time that I “face my fear” and return to Camp Shelby.  He continued to remind me that if I did not return to duty by August 30, that I would be carried as AWOL and that I would be prosecuted and possibly imprisoned.  I again told him of my fear of returning to such an environment and the devastation that I felt about being forced to perform my duties in a location where I had been assaulted.  He told me my only option was to return to duty.

On August 27, 2004, I contacted the office of Senator Frank Lautenburg for assistance in this matter.  His office contacted the National Guard Bureau, who stated that it was not their responsibility to deal with the matter and that any inquiries should be referred to the Department of the Army.  It is my understanding that the Department of the Army referred his office back to the New Jersey Army National Guard. I have since contacted Major Brown (601-558-2190) from the Judge Advocates Office at Camp Shelby, MS who stated that he referred my situation to the 278^th Regimental JAG office and that they would be in contact with Lt. Colonel Waddle in an attempt to at least extend my leave time to avoid being listed as AWOL.  Major Brown contacted me on August 28, 2004 and stated that Lt. Colonel Waddle refused to extend this time.

The Atlantic County Women’s Counseling Service attempted to contact Maj. Sullivan in an attempt to lawfully resolve my continued needs but the negative response received from her prompted the counselor to advise me to seek outside legal assistance.

I have received and forwarded letters from an Atlantic County Women’s Center crisis counselor, a Women’s Medical Center medical physician, and a clinical psychologist that all conclude that returning to Camp Shelby would be physically and emotionally detrimental to my current situation.  These letters and professional opinions have continued to be disregarded by both the medical staff and command at Camp Shelby.

I am contacting you, requesting any assistance that you may be able to provide in this matter.  I am currently receiving the medical and emotional care that is necessary for me to resume my life and return to a fully functional status without the nightmares, flashbacks and fears that I face on a daily basis.  I have a very loving and supportive family that has made it possible for me to begin to pull my life back together.  However, the military has made this struggle nothing short of horrifying.  I initially received no medical or emotional support from them and continue on a daily basis to experience the cold and callous treatment of a group of individuals who care more about the number of boots that they can deploy than the best interests of the human beings that are affected. 

I have been nothing but completely cooperative with the military in all matters for the past 8 years of my life, to include all that was required of me during the three weeks of interrogation, harassment and questioning that occurred following this attack.  But, I have recently been met with complete resistance and an unprecedented lack of caring and understanding.  This experience has made me an emotional wreck and I shudder to think of what further damage the military is capable of inflicting upon me.  Please assist me in regaining control of my life, emotions and sanity.  I fear that a return to the military environment at this time will be the virtual end of my life. It will do nothing but crush what little progress and peace of mind I have been able to develop with the help of my family and those who care about me.  This whole situation holds the door open for the military to continue abusing me as they cold-heartedly disregard my status as a victim.

I do not think that my requests are excessive considering the current situation that the US Army has exposed me to. I would prefer to be discharged from the military so that I can attempt to salvage my life separated from an environment that I am now terrified by. Prior to the military’s response in reference to my request for an extension, I was prepared to finish my active duty status within the State of New Jersey so that I could receive treatment and have the support of people that I feel comfortable with, in an environment that does not make me relive the horror of this tragic event. However, I am now fearful that any further exposure to this environment would merely be another opportunity for the military to abuse me physically and emotionally.  I no longer have the ability to trust that the United States military will act with my best interests at heart and any option short of a discharge that may be forced upon me is tantamount to a psychological death sentence. I did not ask to be raped. Why am I being treated this way?

Respectfully and desperately pleading for help,

1LT Jennifer O. Dyer

Mays Landing, NJ  08330

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