The report indicates that U.S. military academies have struggled to address a toxic and unhealthy climate.
And the environment has only grown worse following a spike in sexual assault and harassment cases in the last school year.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said it was “disturbing and unacceptable” that the crimes are “trending upward,” which he said degrades military readiness and endangers teammates.
“This is a difficult moment, and it must serve as a turning point for the service academies,” Austin wrote in a memo to Pentagon leadership.
“We defend America as one team, and the brave service members who volunteer to keep our country safe should themselves be safe from sexual assault, sexual harassment, and other harmful behaviors.”
An independent commission team, established by the office of the Under Secretary for Personnel and Readiness, reviewed procedures and the climate at the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Military Academy.
Commission officials concluded that existing practices and procedures contributed to an unhealthy climate and that harmful behaviors are likely to increase.
They said academy students are expected to fix problems themselves, often feel disconnected from the wider academy community and struggle in a toxic climate of hazing and harassment.
Thursday’s report recommended expanding the range of mental health services available and calls for more transparency and accountability against individuals who harm, bully, sexually assault or harass others, among other recommendations.
In the memo released Thursday, Austin said each secretary of the military branches overseeing the military academies must send him a plan of action report by Oct. 31.
The Defense Department will also set up a new task force to meet regularly and address the ongoing issue.
In the 2021-2022 school year, sexual assaults at the Air Force, Navy and Military academies reached the highest level on record since the Defense Department began tracking the issue in 2006.
Read more at TheHill.com.
