ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY

While the Army has implemented 63 of 70 recommendations to combat sexual assault and harassment in the force, leaders remain “concerned” about the uptick in incidents in the past year. 

A DoD report using fiscal 2021 data showed a “significant increase” in the prevalence of sexual assault and a “decline in trust in the military system to deal with those problems,” Army Undersecretary Gabe Camarillo said during a recent hearing before the House Armed Services military personnel subcommittee. 

The Army is implementing two new initiatives aimed at changing the way sexual assault victims and their alleged attackers are handled.

Announced by the Army on July 14, the initiatives are part of the service’s continuing effort to eliminate harmful behaviors in the force and reshape its approach to helping victims of sexual assault. 

Army Secretary Christine Wormuth says her service has a “credibility gap” when it comes to addressing sexual assault and harassment and promised changes are on the way to help make it easier to report incidents.

The Army is implementing big changes to reform military justice, reorganize the sexual harassment and assault prevention response program and create a civilian-staffed “prevention workforce,” a senior Army official said.

The three initiatives are part of more than 80 recommendations made last fall by the Independent Review Commission stood up by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who, in his first directive as secretary, pledged to tackle sexual assault and harassment in the force.

Efforts by the Army to address harmful behaviors in the force will be the focus of an upcoming webinar hosted by the Association of the U.S. Army.

The event, part of AUSA’s Noon Report webinar series, will feature James Helis, director of the Army Resilience Directorate. It will begin at noon Eastern May 24.

The webinar is free, but registration is required here.

Efforts by the Army to address harmful behaviors in the force will be the focus of an upcoming webinar hosted by the Association of the U.S. Army.

The event, part of AUSA’s Noon Report webinar series, will feature James Helis, director of the Army Resilience Directorate. It will begin at noon Eastern April 5.

The webinar is free, but registration is required here.

The Army is launching a one-year pilot that aims to better support soldiers who have experienced sexual assault and harassment, the latest effort in the service’s ongoing fight against the problem.

Army civilians are now eligible to receive Army Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention services, the service announced. 

The new policy, announced Sept. 17, represents a significant shift in access to SHARP resources for Army civilians. Previously, Army civilians could only qualify for limited SHARP services if they worked overseas, were deployed or were also dependents, according to an Army press release.