“I Just Don’t Want to Be Part of It Anymore”: How Harm and Betrayal Erode Cohesion in the Aftermath of Military Sexual Misconduct

Abstract

This study addresses the nature of harm and betrayal following sexual misconduct from the perspective of military personnel and veterans with lived experience, and its impact on military cohesion. A total of 67 semistructured interviews were originally conducted to explore experiences seeking related support in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). A secondary analysis revealed descriptions of interpersonal and institutional betrayal, which damaged their trust and regard for the organization and weakened organizational commitment and connection. Participants framed these impacts in relation to their peers, their leaders, and the organization more broadly, demonstrating that harm from poor organizational responses destabilizes the fundamental bonds that support military cohesion on multiple levels. These findings provide insight into the subjective experience of betrayal associated with sexual misconduct and highlight how organizational responses can substantially mitigate or exacerbate this harm.