Ms McSally said she kept quiet about the assault for many years.

"But later in my career, as the military grappled with scandals and their wholly inadequate responses, I felt the need to let some people know - I too was a survivor," she said.

Ms McSally said she considered leaving the military after the assault.

"I almost separated from the Air Force at 18 years over my despair," she said. "Like many victims I felt the system was raping me all over again.

"But I didn't quit," she said. "I decided to stay and continue to serve and fight and lead, to be a voice from within the ranks for women and then in the House and then in the Senate."