Since the Tailhook scandal of the 80s, there has been a major focus on sexual harassment in the military. The DoD is required to submit a report each year by Congress on sexual harassment. The report must cover the effectiveness of training, policies, and procedure regarding sexual harassment and sexual violence within Military Service Academies. The Annual Report on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the Military Academies for the 2021-2022 academic year was recently released by the Department of Defense (DoD) and shows 206 reports were filed.
A couple hundred reports is nothing to shake a stick at. The 206 filed reports of harassment is up by 45 from the 2019-2020 academic year. The academies include the United States Military Academy, United States Naval Academy, and the United States Air Force Academy. Of the 206 reports filed during the 21-22 academic year, 170 of those involved an actively enrolled cadet or midshipman – an increase of 31.
The numbers are not good. Looking at the specific academies, the U.S. Military Academy received the same number of reports, the U.S. Air Force Academy increased by two, and the U.S. Naval Academy increased by 29.
The military push investigations when cases are filed. Seventy-seven criminal investigations were opened during the 21-22 academic year in response to the 206 reports. Of those, 33 investigations were completed, with 28 resulting in action being taken against the alleged subjects; 25 of those received sexual assault charges substantiated, including nine court-martials. The other five had misconduct charges substantiated.
An important part of the report process concerns improving the military. Recommendations for reforms were made to the DoD by the Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military. The review looked at current policies, programs, and personal experiences. Under the DoD’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response policy, a report of sexual assault or sexual harassment can be made to a sexual assault and response coordinator or a military criminal investigation organization.
When making a report, a service member can make the report at any time, regardless of the amount of time that may have passed between the incident and the time of reporting. The DoD receives reports for sexual assaults that took place before a cadet or midshipman entered military service. Civilians can also make reports against an academy member.
