Fatigues Clothesline is both an awareness and art-based therapy program for military sexual trauma (MST) survivors and their families, a program to create a dialog between survivors and group leaders, counselors as well as family members. The work of art gives survivors the power to express themselves freely, whether it be through drawing, painting or writing. It is also a program for individuals who cannot talk to counselors, social workers and families but are willing to participate in a cause to raise awareness on MST. Fatigues Clothesline is not anti-military. This program is a form of art therapy that also raises awareness about military sexual trauma (MST) to those who may not know it exist.
I need your help to accomplish Fatigues Clothesline's mission. Help me bring Fatigues Clothesline to your state and to your local area. It is important that all veterans, service members and their families have the opportunity to participate in this program because it is a needed enhancement to traditional therapy. I am also asking for those in the mental health field to help promote Fatigues Clothesline by utilizing uniform blouses of their client's choice instead of the traditional white T-shirt used in civilian programs. This will help raise awareness about military sexual trauma and military sexual assault. Thank you for your help. Ways you can help. You can inform counselors and social workers in your area about this program. You can put up flyers on base, letting everyone know what Fatigues Clothesline is and what it is doing. To help counselors and social workers in your area, you can start donation bins for used uniforms; that way they will have uniforms on hand for survivors who want to participate in a group with their counselor and/or couples therapy. I highly recommend the group approach with this program. For more information and to receive free brochures, please email me atrvasquez@semperfidelishealthandwellness.org.
What our survivors and their families may achieve through Fatigues Clothesline:
1) Empowerment - Veterans need to gain back the voice which was taken away from them. Often times, our veterans are not able to say anything due to fear of being labeled, the loss of fellowship, or direct and indirect threats. Not only our veterans affected, but their families are too. Working as a family, they are able to empower themselves together.
2) Confidence - Allowing the public to read what happened to our veterans and allowing our veterans to hear what society has to say about the situation will help our veterans regain confidence. Participating as a family gives all members a sense of release and over time will create a sense of peace.
3) Communication skills - Using symbols to help with words may make it easier to talk about what happened, not only to the counselors who are working with them but to their family membersas well.
4. Individuality – Sexual violence took away the identity of our veterans. It is time for us to help survivors of military sexual trauma (MST) take back who they once were.
5. Self-esteem - Whether man or woman, black, white or brown, young or older, our veterans deserve a chance for a future full of love, understanding and, most of all, acceptance of who they are.
6. Unity to one's family and self. When something like this happens, it sucks the life out of the survivor and it’s easy for them to crawl into a shell. Not only does the veteran suffer but the family suffers as well; spouse and child are left to fend for themselves. The use of art may help bring our fellow veterans closer to their families so they may not miss that smile, the shine in their loved ones' eyes or true appreciation of what life has to offer. It is time to help by lending a helping hand filled with compassion, support, understanding and love.
I want to give thanks to Ms. Laura Tattoo for taking her time to edit this page. Thank You Ms. Laura
Fatigues Clothesline appreciate your work.
