Sexual Assault Reports Decline at 2 Academies

Fewer cadets at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., and the Air Force Academy near Colorado Springs, Colo., reported sexual assaults during the 2012-2013 academic year, the Defense Department announced Jan. 10. During the same period, however, sexual-assault reports rose among midshipmen who attend the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md. The statistics came from the Defense Department’s Annual Report on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the Military Service Academies. According to the white paper, the three schools reported a total of 70 incidences of sexual assault. Of those 53 involved cadets or midshipmen while they were involved in military service. Pentagon officials hailed the statistics largely as good news – an indicator that the emphasis on eliminating sexual harassment from the ranks is bearing results. They also noted that any increases in sexual-harassment reports should be welcomed as well, because such crimes traditionally have been underreported. More reports of wrongdoing would indicate that victims are more willing to step forward, Pentagon leaders said.