Sexual Assaults in the US Military Increased 13 Percent in FY 2021
A House Democrat asked the U.S. military’s top enlisted leaders what they were doing about sexual assault in the military after an annual report showed the problem is getting worse. She made clear that she was not pleased with their answer.
“No disrespect, but that’s an unsatisfying answer,” Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) told Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy James Honea at an oversight hearing of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies.
Schultz asked the question during a discussion of how pay, housing, and health care issues were impacting the morale, recruiting, and retention of military personnel on Feb. 28.
Reports of sexual assaults in the military increased by 13 percent in Fiscal 2021, according to the FY 2021 Annual Report on Sexual Assaults in the Military. The report was released in September 2022.
The report shows that 8.4 percent of active-duty women and 1.5 percent of active-duty men reported some form of unwanted sexual contact during FY 2021. While the reports of sexual assaults increased, the overall rate of those who came forward to report the assaults has decreased, the report states.
Schultz asked Honea what he was doing to solve the problem, which she said was “Only getting worse.”
Honea agreed the problem is worsening, but he said Navy leadership was working to implement programs and strategies the Department of Defense formulated. He said that while he has only been in office a short while, he is familiar with the issue, having dealt with it throughout his naval career.
Honea said he is committed to ensuring a safe and secure working environment for all sailors. Schultz was not happy with Honea’s answer.
“You’re not giving me any specifics,” she said.
Schultz then directed her question to Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne Bass. Bass said the Air Force is working to build a culture in which sexual assault and harassment are unacceptable.
“We are continuously, as all services do, outlining to our folks that this is not okay,” Bass said.
Bass told Schultz that the Air Force begins training its personnel on the issue in basic training, and the policies against sexual harassment and assault are reinforced throughout the member’s enlistment. In addition, the Air Force has implemented policies to make it easier to report incidents when they occur.
When the report was released, the DOD released a statement vowing to deal with the issue. This included the establishment of an Independent Review Commission (IRC) to study the problem and make recommendations. According to the statement, the IRC came up with more than 80 recommendations that each military branch is currently implementing.
