Protect service members
Reforming how military handles sexual assault benefits all-volunteer force
Years of disturbing reports, studies, calls for help from survivors, advocacy, congressional action and growing awareness finally resulted in a historic reform of the way the military justice system deals with sexual assault and other serious crimes.
When President Joe Biden signed an executive order in July to implement the fundamental changes in the military justice system that won bipartisan approval in Congress, he set in motion what he called the most significant reform of the Uniform Code of Military Justice since it was established nearly 75 years ago.
The change was overdue. Women have faced all sorts of obstacles as they have worked to become equal members of our armed forces. It was a big deal — and a source of controversy — to let them start attending the service academies back in the 1970s. Women couldn’t be permanently assigned to Navy combat ships until 1994. They weren’t allowed to serve on Navy submarines until 2010. Only in 2016 were all combat positions opened to women, if those women could qualify. There has still never been a female Navy SEAL, although more than 100 women have graduated from the Army’s Ranger School.
Women are still a distinct minority among the armed forces, estimated at a bit less than 20%.
Every step of the way, women in the ranks have been disproportionately subjected to sexual harassment — often anything but subtle — and outright sexual assault. Despite years of efforts to raise awareness and change the male-dominated culture that tends to look down on women as inferior, Defense Department reports in recent years detail appalling increases in sexual assault on military women.
Female service members may only be
20% of the force but were victims in 63% of reported sexual assaults in a 2021 accounting. When such accusations were handled within the chain of command, only a small percentage of cases were prosecuted and fewer led to convictions.
Not all accusations of sexual assault are valid. That’s why it’s essential that investigations are impartial and thorough and
that prosecutions are handled professionally.
Providing that impartiality and professionalism are at the heart of this summer’s sweeping changes. Going forward, sexual assault cases and other serious cases such as domestic violence, child abuse and murder will be handled not within the victim’s chain of command but by trained, independent military prosecutors.
The change has not come without controversy. Some critics argued that genuine change must come from within the traditional military system. But the counter arguments — that within the chain of command, aggressors might have power over their victims, and victims might face retaliation — prevailed.
Now the challenge is to make the new system work. The executive order includes measures toward that end, such as having trained people working to prevent and respond to sexual assaults, and intensified efforts to deal with domestic violence and sexual harassment.
The success of this effort is vitally important in more ways than one. Despite continuing problems, the military has been ahead of much of the rest of our society in promoting diversity and inclusiveness in the ranks, when it comes to women as well as racial and ethnic minorities. Military leaders pursue these goals for pragmatic reasons: the effectiveness of our military — and thus our national security — demands forces that are cohesive and effective.
Rooting out sexual assault, harassment and other offensive behaviors is essential in today’s all-volunteer force. If young women know that they are likely to be vulnerable, mistreated and discriminated against, they are less likely to volunteer to serve. If ones who take the chance are treated poorly, they are less likely to stay in after their initial commitment.
Creating a military justice system that allows service members to report sexual assaults without fear of reprisal, and that investigates and prosecutes such offenses fairly and professionally, is also simply the right thing to do. All those, female or male, who join the all-volunteer military should be assured they can serve in an atmosphere where they will be respected and safe.