Pentagon officials are encouraged by a decline in reported sexual assaults among active-duty service members and military academies. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized the need to continue efforts to end sexual assault and harassment within the military. The fiscal year that ended on September 30 saw 8,515 reported sexual assaults, marking a decrease from the previous year. A confidential survey accompanying the report also showed a 19% drop in service members reporting unwanted sexual contact, the first decrease in eight years. All military services reported a decrease in sexual assault numbers, with the Army, Navy, and Air Force showing the most significant declines.
In addition to sexual assaults, service members reported 2,980 cases of sexual harassment in the last fiscal year. The number of reported harassment complaints decreased from the previous year, but the survey revealed that many cases go unreported. One in four women and close to 6% of men in the military reported experiencing sexual harassment, with more men reporting harassment due to larger male representation in the military. Efforts are being made to address underlying issues that contribute to sexual misconduct, such as toxic behavior and hazing at military academies.
Military academies saw a decrease in reported sexual assaults in the last school year, but leadership recognizes the need for significant changes to address the root causes of sexual assault and harassment within these institutions. The U.S. Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and U.S. Military Academy at West Point all reported fewer sexual assaults in the most recent school year. However, service commanders are still working to address issues identified in previous years, including increases in unwanted sexual contact and alcohol-related incidents.
The Department of Defense’s Family Advocacy Program handles domestic abuse-related incidents, with an increase in adult victims of domestic abuse-related sexual assaults. The overwhelming majority of these victims were female, with a small percentage being male. The number of reported child sexual abuse cases decreased from the previous year, with the majority of victims being female. Efforts are being made to hire additional staff to strengthen sexual abuse response and prevention programs within the military.
A key focus within the Department of Defense is to build a larger and more professional workforce to address sexual abuse. A significant budget allocation has been made to hire up to 2,500 personnel and enhance training programs. The hiring process has experienced some delays but is expected to be completed by the end of the 2028 fiscal year. The new staff will be stationed at military installations worldwide to improve prevention and response efforts. Overall, Pentagon officials are cautiously optimistic about the progress made in reducing sexual assaults, but recognize the need for continued efforts to combat sexual misconduct within the military.
