Sexual Assault, Harassment at Military Service Academies Reach Highest Levels in Over Decade

(MENAFN) US military service academies have reported the highest level of sexual assault and harassment in at least 16 years, according to an annual report by the Defense Department. The prevalence survey, which is conducted anonymously every two years to estimate the number of unwanted sexual contact instances, showed that one in five female students at the Army, Navy, and Air Force service academies experienced unwanted sexual contact during the 2021-2022 academic year. This is the highest rate since the department began tracking these figures in 2006. Meanwhile, 4 percent of male students surveyed reported experiencing unwanted sexual contact.

Defense Force Resiliency executive director Beth Foster expressed disappointment and frustration at the survey results. However, the number of reported sexual assaults during the year was only 206, including cases reported by prep school students and cadets or midshipmen who had experienced incidents before entering service.

While the prevalence survey only measures the instances and circumstances of unwanted sexual contact and not official reports, it still recorded far higher numbers than the number of reported incidents. The U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, had the largest increase in reports, with 61 cases of sexual assault reported, which is double the amount of cases reported the previous year. The U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, saw a slight decrease in cases from 46 reports to 42 in the 2021-2022 academic year, while the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs reported the same number of cases as the previous year, with 52.

Reporting cases of sexual assault is often just the beginning. Unrestricted reports that are not submitted confidentially can trigger an investigation and may result in disciplinary action. This year, 77 investigations associated with 80 sexual assault reports were opened, and of the 151 accused attackers, decisions had only been made in 61 cases about whether to charge, discipline, or pursue other action against offenders. Among the 43 individuals for whom charges were considered, none of the accusations were found to be unfounded by legal or command review, and sexual assault charges were substantiated for 23 of those accused. Only nine faced a court martial, three received administrative discharges, and 11 were subjected to other adverse administrative actions.

The prevalence survey, which tracks the circumstances surrounding sexual assaults and why they remain so underreported, found that women and men were more likely to experience unwanted sexual contact in their second year in the academy. Students also reported that alcohol played a significant role, with over half of the instances of unwanted sexual contact involving alcohol for 61 percent of women and 58 percent of men who participated in the survey. The survey results underscore the ongoing challenge of preventing sexual assault and harassment in the military and highlight the need for continued efforts to address this issue.

MENAFN12032023000045014228ID1105756307