Sexual assaults on the rise at US military academies

WASHINGTON (AP) — Reported sexual assaults at U.S. military academies rose in the 2021-22 school year, with one in five female cadets saying in an anonymous survey they had experienced unwanted sexual touching, The Associated found. Press.

Army report on reported assaults at Army, Navy and Air Force academies shows overall 18% increase in reported assaults by female cadets over previous year .

The increase was primarily in the Navy, which nearly doubled the number of reported assaults in 2022 compared to 2021. It is unclear whether the phasing out of COVID-19 restrictions contributed to the increase, including including at the United States Naval Academy. , which adjoins bars in downtown Annapolis, Maryland.

An anonymous survey of students accompanying the report shows an increase in all types of unwanted sexual contact – from groping to rape – across all academies. And he cites alcohol as a key factor.

The military and academies have worked for years to combat sexual assault and harassment, with a myriad of prevention, education and treatment programs each year. But despite extensive research, recommendations and a move towards more independent judicial processes, the numbers continue to rise.

The increases have sparked outrage on Capitol Hill and a steady stream of legislation. But so far the changes don’t appear to alleviate the problem, although officials say improved treatment programs have encouraged more victims to report the crimes.

According to US officials, 155 cadets reported assaults in the 2022 school year, up from 131 the previous year. Of these, cadets at the United States Naval Academy reported 61, nearly double the school’s total the year before, when it was 33 – by far the highest number. bottom of all academies that year.

Cadets at the Air Force Academy in Colorado reported 52, the same number as the previous year, and those at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, reported 42, a slight down from 46 the previous year. .

Not all of the assaults included in the report happened when the cadets were enrolled in the academies. Because students at the academy are encouraged to report assaults, some sometimes report events that happened years before they started school there. As a result, 16 students reported an assault during the 2021-2022 school year that occurred before they enlisted in the military.

Another 35 cases involved civilians, active duty military and private school students who were allegedly assaulted by someone who was a student. The total number of reported assaults related to a student was 206, about 28% more than last year’s total of 161.

US officials provided details of the findings on condition of anonymity because the report had not yet been made public. The report is expected to be released within the next few hours.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a brief drop in cases at academies during the short 2019-2020 school year, when in-person classes were canceled and students were sent home in the spring to complete the semester. on line.

At the start of the 2020-2021 school year, cadets faced a number of restrictions due to the ongoing pandemic, but these have been eased somewhat over time and bars and restaurants have reopened. By the end of that year, the numbers started to rise again, and officials said it was unclear what impact, if any, COVID-19 had had on the 2021 school year.

The Pentagon releases two reports each year on the number of reported sexual assaults by cadets at military academies and by members of the armed forces. But because sexual assault is an underreported crime, the department also conducts anonymous surveys every two years to get a clearer picture of the problem among the student and working population. Pentagon leaders believe the investigation provides a more accurate picture of the attacks and the contributing factors.

According to surveys, academy students are also less likely to report an assault than service members who have already graduated. Students may be more concerned about the impact on their military career or even the career of their abuser.

According to the most recent survey of cadets at the academy, 21.4% of women said they had had unwanted sexual contact in the 2022 school year, up from about 16% in 2018, the last year in which the survey was conducted due to COVID-19 restrictions. Among men, the rate rose from 2.6% in 2018 to 4.4% in 2022.

According to the survey, assaults on women are most common by a man who is usually in the same school year and more than half the time he knows them from school or other activities. Assaults against men were more common – 55% of the time – by a woman who was in the same grade and knew them.

Alcohol consumption is involved in more than half of the cases reported in the survey, with a maximum of 65% at the Naval Academy. The report recommends additional policies on alcohol consumption.

The report also found second- and third-year male cadets are at higher risk. And that women are much more likely to report assault than men.

Pentagon leaders have for years pushed public campaigns urging students to report any attacks, arguing that an increase in reports of assaults suggests students feel safer to seek help.

According to the report, the rates of unwanted sexual contact reported in the survey are “at or above rates among civilians” based on 2014 and 2018 statistics from the American Association of Universities. No other more recent statistics are available, so it is difficult to accurately compare military academies with other non-military universities.