Welcome to Eyes Right Veterans Foundation

Stephanie Schroeder is a retired United States Marine Corps veteran who was wrongfully discharged from service after reporting a felony crime to USMC authorities. As a result of reporting these crimes, she experienced retaliation from her peers and leadership but was subsequently given an honorable discharge but her DD 214 indicated that she was released from duty due to a personality disorder. Stephanie sought justice to right a wrong committed by her leadership. She was never given any testing to determine if she in fact had a personality disorder nor did she see any medical personnel who would have had an opportunity to diagnose her with a personality disorder. Through research and determination, Stephanie learned that other veterans who had reported sexual assault in the military had also experienced retaliation in one form or another after reporting the crime(s) to leadership. She vowed to not only fight for herself and the correction of her records but also to help prevent other service members from experiencing the same. In 2015, Stephanie finally won her wrongful discharge claim, but she continues to fight for all victims.

Stephanie Schroeder has been leading the way on military retaliation & personality disorder discharge reform for years. She participated in two federal lawsuits (Cioca v Rumsfeld & Klay v Panetta) that were dismissed because SCOTUS ruled rape is incident to service. She advocates for both the Stop Act (Sexual Assault Training, Oversight, and Prevention Act) sponsored by Representative Jackie Speier and the Military Justice Improvement Act sponsored by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. She represents victims of military sexual assault at the United Nations at the Geneva Conventions in Switzerland. Through her service to the United Nations, she was able to successfully negotiate for an overhaul of the Uniformed Code of Military Justice. She also successfully negotiated for Article 132 (Retaliation) to be added to the Uniformed Code of Military Justice. She continues to collaborate with Cornell University, Service Women’s Action Network, & Equality Now as an advocate before the United Nations and monitors/advises on sexual assault & retaliation policy implementation in the military. In 2017, Stephanie took the lead when the Marines United scandal broke & used it to get Article 138 (Cyberstalking) added to the Uniformed Code of Military Justice. She is a board member for the United States Human Rights Network (USHRN) and the International Mechanisms Coordinating Committee Board (IMCC).

Cioca v Rumsfeld First Amended Complaint Jury Demand
Military’s newly aggressive rape prosecution has pitfalls
Military Rape Speech 15 by Congresswoman Jackie Speier
Stephanie Schroeder’s military sex assault claim leads to psych discharge
Rape victims say military labels them ‘crazy’
The Military Labeling Rape Survivors as “Crazy” to Get Rid of Them?
Military May Be Gaslighting Sexual Assault Victims
Employers Gone Wild: U.S. military banishes rape victims with damning psychiatric diagnoses
‘Personality Disorder’ Discharge, Frequent Solution in Rising Number of Military Sexual Assault Cases
U.S. military banishes rape victims with damning psychiatric diagnoses
Fear of Reprisal: The Quiet Accomplice in the Military’s Sexual-Assault Epidemic
Now That Women Are Cleared For Combat, How About A Rape-Free Workplace?
Cioca v Rumsfeld US Court of Appeals Decision
Fear of Reprisal: The Quiet Accomplice in the Military’s Sexual-Assault Epidemic
Former Marine to Speak at Geneva Convention Against Sexual Abuse
Ex-Marine to speak at Geneva Convention against sexual abuse
Local Marine to speak against sexual abuse at Geneva Convention
UN Committee to Review Cornell Law Report on Sexual Violence in the U.S. Military
Building a U.S. Movement to End Torture
Powerful Stories from Directly Impacted Individuals at CAT Review
BARELY LEGAL: Sexual Violence in the U.S. Military
Exclusive: Victims of military sexual assault appeal to human rights panel
I’m a Military Sexual Assault Survivor & the US apologized at the Torture Review
Military Sexual Assault: Reporting and Rape Culture
Advice for Veterans with Military Sexual Trauma Claims
Davidson County veteran, victim of sexual assault changing the face of today’s military
8 women Marines define themselves within and beyond the uniform