Sexual Assault In The Military Essay

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The purpose of this essay is to discuss the issue of sexual assault in the military. Sexual assault remains a persistent problem in the military, with more than 20,000 active duty service members experiencing unwanted sexual contact in 2014, and sexual assaults even occurring in combat environments. The estimations of sexual assaults that occur during military service range from 9.5 % to 43 % among women and 1 to 12 % among men. In the most recent survey of sexual assault in the military, 4.9 % of active duty women and 1.0 % percent of active duty men reported being sexually assaulted within the past year. Although sexual assaults still occur frequently within service-members, there is a variety of resources available for leaders to implement …show more content…
He also instituted a requirement that all unit commanders report sexual assault allegations up the chain of command, so the cases can be handled at a special court-martial level. However, advocates are trying to prevent what Lewis, the woman in Iraq, and countless others have endured. They want to remove sexual assault allegations from the chain of command to ensure investigations and trials are conducted fairly. They point to England and Canada, which have already done so in their militaries. Lawmakers have proposed initiatives to address this problem and sexual assault in the military generally. There is a proposal in the House of Senate that would prohibit officers from altering or overturning a conviction for a major crime, such as a sexual assault. Those found guilty would be dishonorably discharged or dismissed. At a March Senate hearing on sexual assault in the military, senior officers from all five branches of the military said that while they were committed to addressing sexual assault, they also strongly opposed stripping commanders of the power to intervene in military

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