In 2021, the U.S. military reported 13% more sexual assaults

The Associated Press has uncovered that reports of sexual assaults in the U.S. military increased by 13% last year, led by huge surges in the Army and the Navy as facilities began to lift influenza restrictions and public venues reopened.

U.S. defense and military authorities disclosed that up to 36,000 service members stated in a private poll that they had had unwelcome sexual contact, a substantial increase over the roughly 20,000 who claimed the same thing in a comparable 2018 survey.

Legislators on Capitol Hill, who have been skeptical of the Pentagon’s efforts to control sexual offenses and misconduct, are certain to be angered by the latest data.

According to officials, the overall increase is mostly driven by a nearly 26% increase in Army soldier-related reports. Since 2013, when such reports increased by 51%, it is the highest growth for this service.

Navy reports increased by almost 9%, Air Force by little more than 2%, and Marine Corps by less than 2%, according to officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because the data has not yet been made public.

The significant increase is particularly troubling for the Army, which is struggling to fulfill its recruiting objectives and is likely to fall short by at least 10,000 recruits, or anywhere from 18% to 25%, by the end of September. Army authorities have acknowledged that it is essential for parents and others who influence recruits to have confidence in their child’s safety and care in the military. Sept. 24, 2017 aerial image of the Pentagon building Bill Clark

COVID-19 and pandemic limits confound comparisons between years. Officials stated they lack sufficient data to assess if or to what extent the pandemic contributed to the increased reporting and survey numbers.

The Pentagon and the military services have worked for years to develop procedures to prevent sexual assaults and promote reporting. While the military has made progress in making it easier and safer for service members to report assaults, it has had much less success in lowering assaults, which have grown virtually every year since 2006.

The total increase of double digits follows two years of very modest increases in the number of reports filed by or involving military members. During the fiscal year ending in September 2020, reports of sexual assault and unwanted sexual contact increased by 1% due to the global epidemic. The prior year saw a roughly 3% increase in reports, a significant improvement over 2018, which also saw a 13% increase.

During the fall of 2020 and the beginning of 2021, the widespread restrictions on military travel and mobility remained, and many businesses, restaurants, and pubs were closed or provided limited service. As more individuals got vaccinated in the summer and fall, things began to loosen up, although it is unclear if this greater freedom contributed to the spike in assault allegations.

Every year, the Pentagon issues a report detailing the number of sexual assaults reported by or about military personnel. However, because sexual assault is a crime that is grossly underreported, the department has been conducting a confidential poll every two years to better understand the situation. More than 20,000 service members reported experiencing some sort of sexual assault in 2018, but only one-third of them filed a formal report.

On the basis of the secret poll, the most recent study, which is set to be made public on Thursday, predicts that approximately 35,800 service members experienced some form of sexual assault over the previous year. This indicates that around one out of every five service members reported an event from the previous year.

Up to 10% of attacks reported by service members each year occurred before they joined the military.

Officials familiar with the data claimed that survey respondents also indicated increases in workplace discontent and sexual harassment, which can lead to other sexual assaults or misconduct.

Defense officials have claimed that an increase in reported assaults is a positive trend because so many people in the military and in society are afraid to report it. According to them, an increase in reporting demonstrates higher trust in the reporting system and comfort with victim support.

It is unclear, however, whether the increase in assault-related reports over the past year indicates a rising problem or whether victims were simply more ready to come forward.

Congress has exerted repeated pressure on the Pentagon to increase prevention and prosecutions. Late last year, lawmakers took some prosecutorial authority away from commanders and gave it to independent prosecutors.

Advocates for victims’ rights and others have suggested that military personnel do not trust the system and are frequently afraid to file complaints with their commanders for fear of retaliation. They are also concerned that commanders might not pursue certain cases if they know the accused. Members of Congress believed that appointing independent prosecutors would improve the fairness of the process and encourage victims to come forward.

In the United States, survivors of sexual violence and their families have access to assistance. RAINN provides access to resources at 1-800-656-HOPE and www.rainn.org