According to new Pentagon data, reported sexual assaults at the U.S. military service academies dropped in 2024 for the second year in a row, marking a positive trend following a surge two years ago that prompted significant reviews and leadership changes.
The decrease in reports was accompanied by a drop in the number of students reporting unwanted sexual contact during the school year that ended in the spring.
While the decline is a positive development, defense officials caution that the numbers remain high, indicating that more work needs to be done to address the issue.
The survey conducted every other year revealed that the percentage of female students experiencing unwanted sexual contact decreased from over 21% in 2022 to about 13% in 2024, while for male students, the rate dropped from 4.4% to 3.6%.
Most reported assaults involved alleged offenders who were academy students and known to the victims, often occurring outside of duty hours and involving alcohol consumption.
While the Pentagon's force resiliency office finds the new numbers encouraging, they emphasize that the prevalence of sexual assault and harassment remains unacceptably high, underscoring the need for continued efforts to address the issue.
Despite improvements in programs and leadership training, a significant percentage of students who experienced unwanted sexual contact did not report it, highlighting the importance of creating a supportive environment for victims to come forward.
Defense officials released preliminary data earlier than usual this year to aid school leaders in implementing changes, with the full report scheduled for release in February.
Concerns arise regarding potential impacts on sexual assault prevention efforts with the upcoming change in Pentagon leadership, as the new administration has expressed intentions to eliminate certain diversity and equity initiatives.
While the total number of reported sexual assaults at the academies decreased in 2024, ongoing efforts are necessary to combat sexual assault and harassment effectively, despite the challenges faced in implementing prevention and education programs.
