Reported sexual harassment and assault at U.S. military academies has dropped “significantly” over the past two years after spiking in 2022, but rates remain high, according to new Pentagon data released Thursday. That's what it means.
During the 2023-2024 school year, 783 cadets and cadets (457 women and 327 men) experienced sexual assault or harassment at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, and the Department of Defense referred to as “unwanted sexual contact” (USC). Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland. and the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
While this number is higher than for active-duty soldiers of the same age, it is still a significant decrease from 2022, when there were 1,136 incidents of unwanted sexual contact among students.
A 2022 report found that sexual harassment and assault had reached record levels since the Pentagon began tracking the issue in 2006, alarming officials and prompting a series of reviews and leadership. brought about a renewal.
But while the three USC schools, which collectively enroll more than 12,000 students, have reported an overall decline, defense officials say the numbers are “still relatively high.” , warned that there was much work to be done. They are also concerned that while students disclosed 783 incidents, only 103 were officially reported.
“The prevalence of sexual assault and harassment remains too high. What this data shows us is that while this is a difficult problem for everyone, it is not an impossible problem to solve.” Beth Foster, executive director of the Office of Armed Resilience, spoke to reporters by phone ahead of the study's release.
Nate Galbreath, director of the Pentagon's Office of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response, said, “We believe there is more work to be done in the academy because reporting rates are much lower in the academy compared to active duty forces.” .
Lisa Davis, associate director of health and resiliency research in the Office of People Analytics, said the 2024 numbers are “the second highest estimated number of students who experienced unwanted sexual contact on record.” said.
In the biennial survey, about 13% of female students reported experiencing unwanted sexual contact in the 2024 academic year, compared to about 21% in 2022. Also, 4.4% of men reported USC, down from 3.6%.
The full report, including the survey, is typically released in February or March, but the key The data was provided to reporters on Thursday. said Foster.
Most students (88%) from the three academies completed the survey.
Although many factors are involved, the investigation found that alcohol is behind most incidents, which typically occur after work hours on and off campus, and on weekends and holidays. The investigation also found that most of the suspects were students at the academy and were often known to the victims.
According to the Pentagon, the most incidents were reported at the Naval Academy, with 47 incidents, down from 49 a year ago. The Academy is located near downtown Annapolis and numerous bars.
Meanwhile, the Air Force Academy reported 34 students, down from 45 last year, and the U.S. Military Academy reported 25 cadets, down from 43.
The military and military academies have struggled for years to combat sexual assault and harassment within their ranks, with various prevention, education and treatment programs offering little help.
The alarming numbers in 2022 led the Department of Defense to produce a military academy field site assessment report released in August 2023 that found school climate and training environments prevent harmful behaviors such as sexual assault. It has become clear that this is hindering the ability of leaders.
“We went out and the climate was really characterized by a lack of trust, a lack of transparency, and a lot of mixed messages,” said a senior official with the Office of Armed Resiliency and Sexual Assault Prevention and Response. Prevention Advisor Andra Tharp said. . “The message that cadets and cadets were getting about how to treat each other and how to hold each other accountable was not consistent with the message that senior leadership was trying to set.”
The report's recommendations, which are to be completed by August 2025, will allow defense officials to provide guidance to build confidence and encourage more victims to come forward and report sexual assault and harassment. They are requesting improvements in employee training and staffing.
Officials highlighted some of these efforts, including new sexual assault prevention and character development programs in the U.S. Military Academy's curriculum. The Air Force Academy will now provide leadership training throughout students' four years at the school, instead of only offering it to students in their final year.
However, it remains to be seen how the incoming Trump administration will address these programs and changes. President-elect Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, has already vowed to reduce “woke” policies within the U.S. military.
