{"id":26631,"date":"2018-02-07T21:25:08","date_gmt":"2018-02-07T21:25:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/02\/07\/sexual-assault-reports-doubled-at-west-point\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T02:23:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T02:23:09","slug":"sexual-assault-reports-doubled-at-west-point","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2018\/02\/07\/sexual-assault-reports-doubled-at-west-point\/","title":{"rendered":"Sexual assault reports doubled at West Point"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The number of sexual assaults <\/a>reported at the U.S. Military Academy roughly doubled during the last school year, according to data reviewed by The Associated Press, in the latest example of the armed forces\u2019 persistent struggle to root out such misbehavior<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s the fourth year in a row that sexual assault reports<\/a> increased at the school in West Point, New York. There were 50 cases <\/a>in the school year that ended last summer, compared with 26 made during the 2015-2016 school year. By comparison, the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, saw only slight increases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Defense Department <\/a>and West Point officials said the big jump at the Military Academy resulted from a concerted effort to encourage victims to come forward. But the dramatic and consistent increases may suggest more assaults are happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m very encouraged by the reporting,\u201d Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen, superintendent at West Point, told the AP in an interview. \u201cI recognize that people are not going to understand\u201d the desire for increased reporting, he said. But, he added, \u201cI\u2019ve got the steel stomach to take the criticism.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The annual report on sexual assaults at the three military academies is due out this month. The Naval Academy\u2019s reports increased to 29 last year from 28. The Air Force Academy\u2019s<\/a> edged up by one, to 33.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


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Graphic shows sexual assault reports by military service academy.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

About 12,000 students are enrolled across all three institutions. The AP reviewed the data ahead of its public release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The report highlights persistent problems within the Air Force Academy\u2019s sexual assault prevention office that emerged late last year. Staffing and management issues led to sweeping disciplinary actions, the resignation of the director and an office restructuring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those problems could cast doubt on a sharp decline in reported sexual assaults at the Air Force Academy for the 2015-16 school year, considering a widespread loss of confidence in the office. Students may have been reluctant to file reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\t