Military Cadets Finally Gain Right to Confidentiality

The AP reports that a new Defense Department study found that women at military academies have faced 302 incidents of sexual assault since their enrollment.
The good news is that this study was done as a part of a new initiative to provide confidential reporting for victims of sexual assault. The bad news is that the Defense Department responded to the findings by noting that, “We are about where college campuses are, tragically. That’s not, frankly, terribly surprising. These young men and women come from civil society.” Wow, talk about outrage. (sigh).
In the study, 97% of female cadets and midshipmen at the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Military Academy, and the U.S. Naval Academy were surveyed. Approximately 30% of men at these academies were surveyed.
The overall numbers aren’t pretty–16% of the female respondents admitted to having been sexually assaulted, and 50% reported having been sexually harassed. The report also found that 2% of male respondents had been sexually assaulted, and 11% sexually harassed.
In a memo sent by Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz yesterday, he told the other service branches that because, “a mandate of complete reporting may represent a barrier for victims to gain access to services when the victim desires no command or law enforcement involvement, there is a need to provide an option for confidential reporting.” Finally!!! The AP reports that the schools have until mid-June to implement the policies.