Military Sexual Assault: Reporting and Rape Culture

Tis paper analyzes the low rates of reporting among victims of sexual assault within the military. While a Pentagon survey found that 26,000 respondents cited instances of unwanted sexual contact, only 3,374 cases were reported. Overall, victims that are unwilling to report cite fears of retaliation, of losing one’s career, of the justice system, and of a military culture that is intertwined with rape culture. In response to the national attention regarding the issue of military sexual assault and victims’ recent outcries, Congress and the military have created a number of new reforms and programs, including the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014, the Safe Helpline, and the Special Victims Counsel Program. The success of these programs can be attributed to their focus on advocating for victims and incorporating training from survivor advocacy groups. While there has been progress in supporting victims, this analysis fnds that the programs’ continued success and improvement rely heavily on military leadership due to the hierarchical infuence of commanders within the military