Why Is Sharp Increasing In The Army

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The U.S. Army is experiencing a surge in sexual harassment and sexual assault cases, according to new data released Thursday. The number of reported cases of sexual assault rose from 4,700 in 2010 to 6,769 in 2017, while the number of reported cases of sexual harassment increased from 5,500 in 2010 to 8,600 last year, according to an annual report from the Pentagon's Sexual Assault Prevention & Response Office (SAPRO).

Outgoing Secretary of Defense James Mattis met with Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville on Thursday morning about the department's efforts to confront the issue," Esper said during a House Armed Services Committee hearing Thursday afternoon.

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"We are treating this situation with urgency and importance as we work through our plan for addressing these issues."

The U.S. Army is experiencing a surge in sexual harassment and sexual assault cases, according to new data released Thursday.

The number of reported cases for the first half of 2018 increased by more than 30 percent compared to those that were reported during the same period last year, according to a report from the Pentagon's Inspector General's Office.

The Defense Department has seen an overall increase in reports of sexual assault and harassment since 2013 after it began paying more attention to this issue and beefing up programs designed to prevent such incidents from happening again, officials said Thursday at a Pentagon briefing on Thursday afternoon [sic] afternoon [sic].

The Army has been working with outside organizations like RAINN (Rape Abuse & Incest National Network) and others who are helping them develop new policies regarding how leaders should handle these situations, "Col Michael Jones wrote on Facebook earlier this week".

Sexual assault, harassment and other forms of gender-related misconduct have increased in the military over the last decade. In 2010, the Army received 5,500 reports of sexual harassment and 4,700 reported cases of sexual assault. By 2017, those numbers had grown to 8,600 reports of sexual harassment and 6,769 reported cases of sexual assault.

The surge in complaints can be attributed to several factors: more troops coming forward with complaints; a greater awareness among victims that they will be heard and supported; better prevention programs aimed at eliminating discrimination in all its forms; new policies that protect whistleblowers from retaliation; increased scrutiny by Congress and journalists; and changes in leadership within each branch’s respective Armed Services Committee (the Senate Armed Services Committee oversees the Department of Defense).

From 4,700 In 2010 To 6,769 In 2017. The number of reported cases rose from 4,700 in 2010 to 6,769 in 2017. The rate has increased by over 50%.

The increase in the number of reported cases is due to more people coming forward than ever before. The Pentagon has been putting pressure on military leaders and soldiers to report incidents of sexual assault or harassment after a rise in cases came to light last year. According to the Defense Department, 3% of women were sexually assaulted at least once during their service and 8% were sexually harassed during the same time period (2016).

"The Current Environment Forces Us To Look At Every Aspect Of Our Culture," Army Secretary Mark Esper Said During A House Armed Services Committee Hearing Thursday. "We Must Be Willing To Solve This Problem."

You’re already familiar with the basics of what sexual harassment and assault are, but it's important to reiterate that they're not always easy to identify. Here are some examples of what could be considered sexual harassment or assault:

Unwanted comments about your body
Touching you in ways that make you uncomfortable
Unwanted comments about your sex life or relationships (such as “how many people have you slept with?”)

At the same time, more troops are coming forward with complaints -- up 25 percent since 2016 of sexual harassment and assault, according to the report.

The number of reports has increased by 25 percent since 2016, when the first ever such report was released.

The increase is partly due to more troops coming forward and reporting incidents of sexual harassment or assault. In addition, more victims are now willing to come forward and report crimes against them.

The outgoing secretary of defense, James Mattis, met with Esper on Thursday morning to discuss the Pentagon's efforts to confront the issue. The Department of Defense is preparing a new plan that aims to address it by ensuring commanders are held appropriately accountable.

The Army has been looking into its sexual harassment and assault problem since January 2018 when it released an internal report showing that more than one in 10 female soldiers experienced some form of sexual harassment during their military careers. This prompted then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to order sweeping changes within the service branches over several months.
Gen. James McConville, chief of staff of the Army, told reporters Thursday that there have been leaders who've abused their positions and determined that they needed to be removed from the service.

The Army's chief of staff told reporters Thursday that there have been leaders who've abused their positions and determined that they needed to be removed from the service.

"We've seen a rise in sexual harassment and assault," Gen. James McConville said during an impromptu press conference following an event with veterans at Fort Myer in Arlington, Virginia. "We're taking action on this."

"Many times we find out about this through victim reporting or other people who have come forward," he added. "Every time we get information about someone abusing their position we investigate it."

To help strengthen the support network for those who have been affected by sexual harassment or assault, CBC News spoke with a soldier who says she was sexually assaulted in 2015 by an officer in her unit and another soldier who recounts being harassed by another officer in 2014. The two women asked that their names not be used to protect their identity as well as the privacy of their families, who are still serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).

"I was terrified," said one of the women. "I think my first instinct was that I had done something wrong."

If the Army is going to solve this problem, it must first know the scope of it. The Department of Defense's report on sexual assault in the military found that just 6 percent of victims reported their attacks. It also estimated that only 4 percent of all cases are actually prosecuted by military courts. That means 96 percent go unpunished and unreported. That's why we applaud Secretary Esper for saying he wants to change the culture around sexual harassment and assault cases -- but he needs more than words if he really wants to address this issue effectively.