Sharp: The High Rise of Sexual Assault in Military

The purpose of this essay is to discuss why the number of sexual assaults continues to increase throughout the Army. The time to stand up for sexual assault is now. According to a news report by CBS, the pentagon has lately committed to the increase of awareness of sexual assault among Soldiers. Fifty-eight percent of women and sixty percent of men in the Army have not reported a sexual assault. To effectively combat sexual assault there must be a high increase in people who stand up for the victims, provide resources for the victims, and educate them on why sexual assault happens.

The department of defense (DOD) defines sexual assault as intentional sexual contact, characterized by the use of force, threats, intimidation, abuse of authority, or when the victim does not or cannot consent effectively. Sexual assault occurs within committed same gender and married couples as well. Sexual assault primarily involves physical contact between the victim and abuser. There can be stalking, cyberbullying, and indecent exposure that the soldier can submit to making it even hard for the Soldier to perform at an optimal point to complete the Army’s mission and tasks.

Having available resources to the military members in the Army is not known until an incident happens. According to the army.mil article on sexual assault improvements, Soldiers can report a restricted and unrestricted report regarding sexual assault. Restricted meaning the victim can receive a Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE), access to various counseling services, control the personal release information, and be a force in catching a repeat offender. Unrestricted reporting is the same as restricted reporting with command support, military protection order, and the option of an expedited transfer for the victim. People need to stand up and report when they know that sexual assault has occurred because lives can be at stake. Information on why sexual assault happens is a huge way on how to educate soldiers on why sexual assault happens.

Information on why sexual assault happens needs to be drilled in every Soldier because it is important to keep soldiers safe and retain retention in the army through ranks above and below. This is a good tool for soldiers to use to receive help when the Soldiers' chain of command is not an option and unbiased within the victim’s opinion. Developing real-world situations for soldiers to comprehend how serious sexual assault is a priority in the army to push out massive information about sexual assault. As a Soldier, they are given SHARP training but it is mandatory and usually on a PowerPoint with handouts to read. Instead of doing a long and drawn-out written presentation, allow the soldiers to experience SHARP training in a real-world set up so they can see how it happens in ongoing interactions among each other.

The high rise of sexual assault is a military failure and it needs to be fixed immediately. statistics show that over 60% of cases involve army members not reporting effectively the things they see and hear among each other when it comes to caring about safety against sexual assault. More hands-on and actual training involving very in-depth conversations about why sexual assault happens in and out of the workplace. There are text message services like the Safe Helpline and unbiased ways to talk to someone about sexual assault throughout the army. Concluding, The reason why sexual happens in the Army is there must be a high increase in people who stand up for the victims, provide resources for the victims, and educate on why sexual assault happens way along with the physical harm associated with sexual assault.