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| Pentagon sees surge in reports of sexual assault among service members | Pentagon sees surge in reports of sexual assault among service members |
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| The number of U.S. service members who reported being sexually assaulted surged by 50 percent last year, the Pentagon announced Thursday, the latest sign of how the military has struggled to cope with sex crimes in the ranks. | The number of U.S. service members who reported being sexually assaulted surged by 50 percent last year, the Pentagon announced Thursday, the latest sign of how the military has struggled to cope with sex crimes in the ranks. |
| Military officials said they don’t know whether the sharp increase in reports meant that more crimes were actually committed or if victims were simply more willing to come forward. The Pentagon has been conducting a high-profile campaign to prevent sexual assault and punish offenders amid concerns that it neglected the problem for years. | Military officials said they don’t know whether the sharp increase in reports meant that more crimes were actually committed or if victims were simply more willing to come forward. The Pentagon has been conducting a high-profile campaign to prevent sexual assault and punish offenders amid concerns that it neglected the problem for years. |
| At a minimum, however, the startling figures released Thursday illustrated how sexual violence is much more prevalent in the armed forces than commanders previously realized. | At a minimum, however, the startling figures released Thursday illustrated how sexual violence is much more prevalent in the armed forces than commanders previously realized. |
| The Marine Corps, for instance, recorded an 86 percent increase in sexual assault reports during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, 2013. The Army saw a 51 percent jump during the same period, compared with 46 percent for the Navy and 42 percent for the Air Force. | The Marine Corps, for instance, recorded an 86 percent increase in sexual assault reports during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, 2013. The Army saw a 51 percent jump during the same period, compared with 46 percent for the Navy and 42 percent for the Air Force. |
| All told, the Pentagon said it received 5,061 reports of sexual assault last year, up from 3,374 the year before. Officials said they presume that still represents only a fraction of the number of sex crimes committed each year against the 1.4 million active-duty members of the military. As in society at large, they said, most victims are reluctant to report what happened to them. | All told, the Pentagon said it received 5,061 reports of sexual assault last year, up from 3,374 the year before. Officials said they presume that still represents only a fraction of the number of sex crimes committed each year against the 1.4 million active-duty members of the military. As in society at large, they said, most victims are reluctant to report what happened to them. |
| The Pentagon had reported a preliminary version of the numbers in December. The final statistics released Thursday mirrored those figures, but the military also released a detailed breakdown that added more context and insights into the problem: | The Pentagon had reported a preliminary version of the numbers in December. The final statistics released Thursday mirrored those figures, but the military also released a detailed breakdown that added more context and insights into the problem: |
| ●About 1.9 percent of all female service members were reported to be sexual assault victims last year, a rate 27 times higher than the 0.07 percent of men who were reported as victims. Women constitute about 15 percent of the 1.4 million troops on active duty. | |
| ●A slight majority — 54 percent — of the reports filed last year involved a member of the military who had been attacked by someone else in uniform. The remainder involved a mix of civilian and military perpetrators and victims. | ●A slight majority — 54 percent — of the reports filed last year involved a member of the military who had been attacked by someone else in uniform. The remainder involved a mix of civilian and military perpetrators and victims. |
| ●Ten percent of those filing reports said they had been victimized before joining the military but waited to come forward — in some cases, years later. | ●Ten percent of those filing reports said they had been victimized before joining the military but waited to come forward — in some cases, years later. |
| Advocacy groups credited the Pentagon for taking steps to support victims and encourage them to come forward. But some said they still had reservations about whether the military is properly investigating and prosecuting sex offenses once they are reported. | Advocacy groups credited the Pentagon for taking steps to support victims and encourage them to come forward. But some said they still had reservations about whether the military is properly investigating and prosecuting sex offenses once they are reported. |
| “There is definitely a seriousness about it,” Nancy Duff Campbell, co-president of the National Women’s Law Center in Washington, said about the military’s overall responsiveness to concerns about sexual assault in the ranks. “I’m still quite concerned about the whole justice system. There’s still a lot of problems with how the cases are handled.” | “There is definitely a seriousness about it,” Nancy Duff Campbell, co-president of the National Women’s Law Center in Washington, said about the military’s overall responsiveness to concerns about sexual assault in the ranks. “I’m still quite concerned about the whole justice system. There’s still a lot of problems with how the cases are handled.” |
| Others were more strident. Nancy Parrish, president of Protect our Defenders, a group that offers legal representation to sex-crime victims in the military, said that the Pentagon’s annual report offers no insights into whether more troops are being attacked, much less why they were willing to come forward to file a report. | Others were more strident. Nancy Parrish, president of Protect our Defenders, a group that offers legal representation to sex-crime victims in the military, said that the Pentagon’s annual report offers no insights into whether more troops are being attacked, much less why they were willing to come forward to file a report. |
| The Pentagon, Parrish said in a statement, “has released no evidence to prove its claim that victims have more trust in the existing military justice system or the treatment they have received.” | The Pentagon, Parrish said in a statement, “has released no evidence to prove its claim that victims have more trust in the existing military justice system or the treatment they have received.” |
| Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said he was confident, however, that changes he has ordered over the last year were having an effect and that victims had more faith that the military would handle their cases properly and with sensitivity. | Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said he was confident, however, that changes he has ordered over the last year were having an effect and that victims had more faith that the military would handle their cases properly and with sensitivity. |
| “We believe victims are growing more confident in our system,” he said in prepared remarks. “Because these crimes are underreported, we took steps to increase reporting, and that’s what we’re seeing.” | “We believe victims are growing more confident in our system,” he said in prepared remarks. “Because these crimes are underreported, we took steps to increase reporting, and that’s what we’re seeing.” |
| Hagel issued several directives Thursday to further bolster sexual assault prevention programs, including a broad review of alcohol policies in the military. Officials said alcohol plays a role in about half of all sexual assault cases. | |
| In addition, Hagel said the Defense Department needed to do more to encourage male victims to report sex crimes. “We have to fight the cultural stigmas that discourage reporting and be clear that sexual assault does not occur because a victim is weak, but rather because an offender disregards our values and the law,” he said. | In addition, Hagel said the Defense Department needed to do more to encourage male victims to report sex crimes. “We have to fight the cultural stigmas that discourage reporting and be clear that sexual assault does not occur because a victim is weak, but rather because an offender disregards our values and the law,” he said. |
| Of the armed forces, the Marine Corps saw the biggest jump in sexual assault reports last year — an 86 percent increase. | Of the armed forces, the Marine Corps saw the biggest jump in sexual assault reports last year — an 86 percent increase. |
| Col. Michael Hudson, director of the Marine Corps sexual assault prevention program, said nine out of 10 cases involved victims younger than 24. Half the assaults occurred on a military base. | Col. Michael Hudson, director of the Marine Corps sexual assault prevention program, said nine out of 10 cases involved victims younger than 24. Half the assaults occurred on a military base. |
| He acknowledged that cultural issues may have discouraged Marines from reporting assaults in the past. The Marine Corps has fewer women — 7 percent of those on active duty — than any other service. The Corps also prides itself on a self-reliant culture that frowns on weakness. | He acknowledged that cultural issues may have discouraged Marines from reporting assaults in the past. The Marine Corps has fewer women — 7 percent of those on active duty — than any other service. The Corps also prides itself on a self-reliant culture that frowns on weakness. |
| “They cannot have a barrier to asking for help,” Hudson said. “I’m here to tell you we have a problem, still, but we’re moving it in the right direction.” | “They cannot have a barrier to asking for help,” Hudson said. “I’m here to tell you we have a problem, still, but we’re moving it in the right direction.” |