Cadet survey on sexual harassment and violence shows mixed results

A survey of students at the military service academies shows that sexual assault and harassment problems have remained relatively constant, despite widespread efforts to stop assaults and encourage students to report problems.

The voluntary survey, released by the Defense Department on Wednesday, was required under the 2007 Defense Authorization Act. The department canvassed all female students and a statistically representative random sample of male students. More than 4,400 students voluntarily completed the questionnaire for a weighted response rate of 74 percent.

According to the survey, 9 percent of women and 1 percent of men indicated experiencing unwanted sexual contact during the 2007-2008 academic year. Fifty-two percent of women and 11 percent of men reported experiencing sexual harassment in 2008.

The Defense Department estimates that 90 percent of sexual assaults go unreported at the academies.

"Clearly, more work needs to be done," wrote David S.C. Chu, undersecretary of Defense for personnel and readiness, in letters accompanying the report to Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., and Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., chairmen of the Senate and House Armed Services committees.

Chu noted that even though the percentage of students indicating they experienced unwanted sexual contact has not changed significantly in recent years, the number of incident reports filed to authorities has decreased.

Military personnel who report sexual violence can file either restricted or unrestricted reports. Restricted reporting allows a sexual assault victim to confidentially disclose the details of an assault and receive medical treatment and counseling without triggering the official investigative process. Unrestricted reports result in an official investigation of the assault. There are specific reporting channels for both approaches.

"We will not be satisfied until we see the rates of restricted and unrestricted reports come closer to what our people are anonymously reporting on department surveys," Chu said.

Each of the services has pursued a variety of educational programs to raise awareness, prevent assaults and encourage reporting at the academies. Ninety percent of survey respondents said those programs have had a positive effect in reducing assaults and harassment.

Differences in reporting methodology make it impossible to compare rates of sexual assault with those at civilian colleges and universities, Chu said.

National statistics indicate that sexual assault is one of the most underreported crimes in the United States. An Air Force Academy poll of cadets in the incoming class of 2012 found that 29 percent of females and 5 percent of males reported being sexually assaulted prior to entering the school, the survey noted.

"We know sexual assault is an underreported crime, and we must foster a climate of confidence at the academies wherein victims no longer avoid reporting these crimes," Chu said. "We want the academies to ignite a culture transformation that spreads throughout the entire department."