The Defense Department is now implementing a more stringent policy aimed at quelling sexual assault. The changes were spelled out in the 2017 defense-spending bill, which became law Dec. 23. Included are:
• A review of previous discharges, which could lead to upgraded discharge status.
• A new definition of sexual harassment, indicating that it could occur “anywhere at any time,” not just during duty hours.
• Increased scrutiny of retaliation against those who report sexual-harassment incidents.
• A requirement that the services deliver annual reports to Congress, describing progress in eliminating sexual harassment from the ranks.