Fact Sheet: Annual Report Findings

Fact Sheet: Annual Report Findings

#1: Increase in Reports

Sexual assault reporting increased by 6% overall, for a total of 3,374 reports which involved offenses ranging from rape to abusive sexual contact.
Overall, the number of sexual assault reports has been on an upward trend since FY 2007 – an increase in reporting that stems from Department policies enacted to encourage more victims to report, obtain care, and participate in the military justice system whenever possible.
Reports can be made to Sexual Assault Response Coordinators, Victim Advocates, health care personnel and law enforcement – and each report represents an opportunity for a victim to access care. Each unrestricted report made to the Department results in an independent investigation – followed by command involvement – to hold offenders appropriately accountable.

#2: Increase in Prevalence Rates

Again, knowing that sexual assault is underreported, we also use data from the Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of Active Duty and Reserve Component Members, submitted anonymously by Service members.
Findings from the survey show the prevalence of unwanted sexual contact increased for active duty women and remained unchanged for active duty men, and men and women in the Reserves.
These rates – 6.1% of women, 1.2% of men – remain unacceptably high.
Findings from the survey, compared to the actual number of reports filed by victims, indicate that approximately 11% of active duty members reported their experience of unwanted sexual contact in FY 2012.
Survey results indicate sexual harassment is also experienced by the majority of men and women who experienced unwanted sexual contact in the past year.

#3: Civilian/Military Women Risk is the Same (CDC Study)

The Annual Report also includes findings from the 2010 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, which determined rates of contact sexual violence among Active Duty women and female spouse.
A joint effort between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Justice and DoD, the survey used a common approach to assess representative samples from the civilian, military and military spouse populations.
Survey results showed that the risk of contact sexual violence is the same for military and civilian women in the past year and over the course of a lifetime.
Findings from the Annual Report, the DoD Workplace and Gender Relations Surveys and the CDC’s national sexual violence survey illustrate the gravity of the problem in the military as well as in civilian society.

Fact Sheet: Recent SECDEF Initiatives

Sexual Assault Accountability Meetings: Secretary Hagel established weekly accountability and assessment meetings with senior DoD leaders.

Sexual Assault Stand-down: SECDEF ordered the Joint Chiefs of Staff to develop a concept for a sexual assault prevention and responsestand-down affecting their respective organizations as well as the Combatant Commands. Active force will be complete by 1 July. Reserve Component by 1 Sep. Plans will address the following mandatory activities:

Active review of credentials and qualifications of current-serving recruiters, SARCs, and VAs to ensure they meet applicable selection criteria and standards of conduct.
Refresher training for recruiters, SARCs and VAs on professional ethics, their critical responsibilities and standards, and the impact on mission readiness for standard violations.
Purposeful and direct commander and leader engagements with Service members and civilian employees on SAPR principles and the climate of dignity and respect necessary in every work place across the DoD.

Implementation of DoD-wide Sexual Assault Strategic Plan: SECDEF directed the military services to align their programs with a revised SAPR Strategic Planby 31 July.

By clearly defining priorities, objectives, and tasks, this plan -- and its effective implementation -- will help ensure that the DoD’s ongoing initiatives to reduce and ultimately eliminate sexual assault are being closely tracked and achieving their purpose.

Sexual Assault Accountability, Climate and Victim Advocacy Measures: SECDEF directed the following as a way to enhance commander accountability, ensure appropriate command climate, improve response and victim treatment, and ensure safety:

Directed the Service Chiefs to develop methods to hold military commanders accountable for establishing command climates of dignity and respect, and incorporating sexual assault prevention and victim care principles in their commands.
Directed that all commanders be provided results of subordinates’ annual command climate surveys to improve insight into climate at every level of the chain of command.
Directed DoD component heads to direct visual inspections of all DoD workplaces, to include MSAs, to ensure that facilities promote an environment of dignity and respect and are free from materials that create an offensive work environment.
Directed the Service Secsto implement methods to improve victim treatment by their peers, co-workers, and chains of command. Direct victim input will be incorporated.

Directed the Department to improve the effectiveness of sexual assault prevention and response programs in recruiting organizations, processing stations, and ROTC to ensure the awareness and safety of new and aspiring service members.

Enhancing Administration of Military Justice

Secretary Hagel called upon the UCMJ review panel to accelerate its work from 18 to 12 months.

Additionally, he directed the DoD Acting General Counsel to:

Develop a method to incorporate the rights afforded to victims through the Crime Victims’ Rights Act into military justice practice.
Evaluate the Air Force Special Victims Counsel pilot program and other approaches to ensure that victims of sexual assault are provided the advice and counsel they need to understand their rights and to feel confident in the military justice system.
Develop a legislative proposal to advocate for appropriate changes to Article 60 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice

SAPRO Deputy Director Col. Alan Metzler on the training and review of SAPRO officials:

SARC and VA Certification Program: The Department’s Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC) and Victim Advocate (VA) Certification Program requires commanders to select, interview, and document that the individual being appointed to these positions has a history free from inappropriate behaviors and possesses a completed background check.
Sexual Assault Stand-down: The Secretary of Defense ordered the Joint Chiefs of Staff to develop a concept for a sexual assault prevention and responsestand-down affecting their respective organizations as well as the Combatant Commands. Active force will be complete by 1 July. Reserve Component by 1 September. Their stand-down plans will address the following mandatory activities:
Active review of credentials and qualifications of current-serving recruiters, Sexual Assault Response Coordinators, and Victim Advocates to ensure they meet applicable selection criteria and standards of conduct.
Refresher training for recruiters, Sexual Assault Response Coordinators and Victim Advocates on professional ethics, their critical responsibilities and standards, and the impact on mission readiness for violations of standards.
Purposeful and direct commander and leader engagements with their Service members and civilian employees on SAPR principles and the climate of dignity and respect necessary in every work place across the DoD.