Military Sexual Assault Reports Increase as Army Numbers Decline

According to a Pentagon report released on Thursday, the overall number of reported sexual assaults across the military increased slightly by approximately 1% last year. However, this small increase is overshadowed by the fact that the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps all saw larger numbers of reports compared to the previous year, despite the Army experiencing a 9% decrease in reported sexual assaults.

The significant drop in reported sexual assaults within the Army, which is the largest branch, was a contrast to the nearly 26% surge in reports involving soldiers the previous year—the largest increase for the Army since 2013.

During the fiscal year that ended on September 30, the Air Force reported the highest increase in sexual assault cases at 13%, while the Navy saw a 9% rise, and the Marine Corps reported approximately 4% more cases.

Overall, there were a total of more than 8,942 reports of sexual assaults involving service members during the 2022 fiscal year, showing a slight increase compared to the 8,866 reports from the previous year.

The rise in reported sexual assaults has put significant pressure on the Pentagon and the military services from members of Congress, urging them to take more measures to reduce sexual assaults and harassment in the military. Over the past year, various initiatives have been introduced to prevent sexual assaults and encourage reporting.

Defense officials argue that the increase in reported assaults is a positive sign, indicating a growing confidence in the reporting system and a willingness to hold offenders accountable. They believe that the higher reporting numbers suggest progress in creating a safer environment for victims to come forward.

To address this ongoing issue, the Pentagon’s sexual assault prevention and response office received a budget infusion of $479 million, which allowed for the hiring of approximately 2,400 personnel for a new “prevention workforce.” The department aims to place these personnel in military installations worldwide to help commanders address risk factors associated with sexual assault.

Despite making efforts to make reporting easier and safer, the military has struggled to reduce sexual assaults, with numbers increasing nearly every year since 2006. The Army, in particular, has recognized that issues like sexual assaults and other problems can impact recruiting efforts, a concern shared across all services.

While the latest report shows some progress, there is uncertainty about whether the increase in reports represents a growing problem or simply a result of more victims being willing to come forward. The Army acknowledges that more work needs to be done to prevent sexual assault and harassment.

To combat sexual assault, the Army has been implementing new programs, such as a training program for soldiers upon their arrival at their first duty station, which focuses on responding to dangerous situations. Additionally, evaluation programs for unit leaders have been strengthened to improve accountability.

In December, the military will start using independent attorneys to review and prosecute sexual assault cases, addressing concerns that some unit commanders may be biased or unwilling to pursue prosecutions, leading to reluctance among victims to report incidents.

The Pentagon conducts a report annually on the number of sexual assaults reported by or about troops, but due to underreporting, it also conducts a confidential survey every two years to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the problem. The most recent survey was released last year, with the next one due for release next year.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about military sexual assaults

More about military sexual assaults

• Pentagon Report: Link
• Army Sexual Assault Prevention Programs: Link
• Air Force Sexual Assault Reporting: Link
• Navy Efforts to Combat Sexual Assault: Link
• Marine Corps Initiatives for Sexual Assault Prevention: Link
• Congress Pressure on Military Sexual Assaults: Link
• Independent Attorneys in Military Sexual Assault Cases: Link
• Pentagon’s Confidential Survey on Sexual Assaults: Link