"Breaking the Silence: Forward Assist CEO Tony Wright Illuminates the Hidden Link Between Military Sexual Trauma and Moral Injury at Durham University Conference"
/In a deeply affecting and paradigm-shifting presentation delivered on April 8th at the prestigious Durham University International Centre for Moral Injury Conference, Tony Wright, CEO of Forward Assist, brought to light the often-overlooked intersection of Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and Moral Injury, a link long felt by survivors, but rarely acknowledged in public discourse.
Before an audience of scholars, clinicians, veterans, and policymakers from all around the world, Wright, a formidable advocate for military veterans and a leading voice in trauma-informed care, dismantled the walls of silence surrounding sexual violence in military settings. With a voice both measured and resonant, he spoke not just as a CEO, but as a changemaker on a mission to confront systemic failings that compromise not only the bodies of those who serve, but their very sense of self.
“Moral injury,” Wright asserts, “is not a wound from what you did—it’s a wound from what you witnessed, what was done to you, and the betrayal by those who were meant to protect you. For survivors of Military Sexual Trauma, that betrayal is often institutional, layered, and corrosive to the soul.”
Wright’s presentation traced the psychological, ethical, and spiritual fractures that arise when individuals are violated in environments built on trust, duty, and honor. Using qualitative data from Forward Assist’s groundbreaking veteran outreach programs—many of which support women and LGBTQ+ service members—he wove together survivor testimony, clinical insight, and moral philosophy into a narrative that was as intellectually rigorous as it was emotionally potent. His talk highlighted a harrowing truth: MST is not merely a physical or emotional trauma, it constitutes a moral violation, disrupting a service member's internal compass and sense of identity. Many victims are left grappling not only with PTSD, but with debilitating shame, self-blame, and disillusionment, hallmarks of what researchers now define as moral injury. Wright didn’t simply present a problem, he ignited a call to action.
He advocated for:
Reform in institutional responses to MST within the military hierarchy
Expanded moral injury frameworks in clinical and academic settings to account for MST experiences
Increased funding for survivor-led peer support programs
Ethical accountability at all levels of command
Forward Assist has long stood at the vanguard of trauma-informed veteran care. After this presentation, it’s clear: they’re also leading the moral reckoning.
