Why Does the Number of Sexual Assault Continue to Increase in the Army

Why Does the Number of Sexual Assault Continue to Increase in the Army?
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Why Does the Number of Sexual Assault Continue to Increase in the Army?
There have been increasing incidents of unwanted sexual contact among service men in the recent past with reports indicating that more men are implicated compared to women. While there is a relatively smaller number proportion of women in the army, women still suffer sexual assaults in greater margins compared to men. Another observation that can be made is that greater numbers of assaults among women are reported and documented compared to those of men since many sexual assaults against men are in most cases overlooked (Childress, 2013). The fact remains that the numbers of sexual assault are increasing each year, even though only a fraction of them are being reported. This state could affect the ability to deliver service to citizens and recruit and retain the desired personnel. This paper examines the factors contributing to the increase in sexual assault in the army by providing supporting evidence and attempts to determine if our current approach to training can or cannot reduce the risk of sexual assault and harassment. Finally, the paper suggests ways on how we can end sexual assault in the army.
The increase in sexual assaults in the army has been blamed on the chain of command that handles such offenses. In this way of handling sexual cases, the commanding officer has all the powers to intervene in the case by stopping the investigation, reducing the sentence of the offender or postpone the conviction. The chain of command has also been seen to have weak links. Childress (2013) reports th...