A US senator who was the first female fighter pilot to fly in combat for the country has said she was raped by a superior officer while in the Air Force.
Martha McSally said she did not report the rape because distrusted the system and was ashamed and confused.
The Republican senator spoke about the incident at a hearing on sex assaults in the US military, which jumped almost 10 per cent in 2017.
Ms McSally said that when she first tried to talk about it to military officials, she “felt like the system was raping me all over again”.
She told the Senate Armed Services subcommittee on Wednesday: “I was horrified at how my attempt to share generally my experiences was handled.”
"Like many victims, I felt like the system was raping me all over again."
An Air Force spokeswoman said the branch was appalled at and "deeply sorry" about what Ms McSally had experienced.
"The criminal actions reported today by Senator McSally violate every part of what it means to be an Airman," she said in a statement.
"And we stand behind her and all victims of sexual assault. We are steadfast in our commitment to eliminate this reprehensible behaviour and breach of trust in our ranks."
Politicians at the meeting also heard from other service members who spoke of being sexually assaulted while serving their country.
Ms McSally said she was impressed and grateful to the survivors who came forward to help change the system.
Victims mostly suffered in silence, she said.
She referred to "perpetrators" who had sexually assaulted her, an indication that she had been attacked more than once.
Ms McSally did not say whether the assaults happened at the academy or during active duty.
She did not give any names.
