Protect Our Defenders Cocktails and Conversations

Sparking a conversation about military sexual trauma was the call to action for Cocktails and Conversations Tuesday evening at The Francis. 

Protect Our Defenders, an organization that helps survivors of military sexual trauma, hosted a panel for members of the community to better understand the need for policy change. Former foreign correspondent for NPR Charylayne Hunter-Gualt served as the moderator for the conversation that included Protect Our Defenders President Don Christensen and CEO Nancy Parrish with retired Navy Lt. Paula Coughlin. 

Before the panel began guests watched a clip from the film Academy Award Nominee for Best Documentary Feature “The Invisible War” detailing accounts from survivors of military sexual assaults. Coughlin was among the subjects featured in the film. 

She later gave her personal account of when she served in the Navy and the backlash she endured when she came forward with her story. 

“I think that the biggest impact this conversation can have is that people have no idea that their service members are under assault from within and that there is such a need for advocacy,” Coughlin said.

Former Air Force Chief Prosecutor and Protect Our Defenders President Don Christensen 

“We need to have a professional military justice system,” Christensen said. “The civilian world would not accept this kind of a justice system.”