WASHINGTON — The U.S. According to a Pentagon report to tackle an alarming rise in sexual assaults and misconduct, the United States military academies must enhance their leadership, eradicate toxic practices such as hazing, and bring behavior instruction into classrooms.
Officials in the United States said the academies must better prepare student leaders to support their students and break the link between what cadets and midshipmen learn in school and the sometimes unpleasant and unpunished behavior they witness from their mentors. According to the evaluation, more senior officers and enlisted leaders must collaborate with students at the Army, Navy, and Air Force academies to deliver enhanced training.
Because the Pentagon study has not yet been made public, many U.S. officials described it on the condition of anonymity. They claimed that discussions regarding stress reduction, misconduct, social media, and other life difficulties occur far too frequently after hours or on weekends. To emphasize the relevance of these themes, the paper suggests that they be addressed in classes and graded.
The study follows a report released earlier this year that revealed a significant increase in reported sexual assaults at the academies during the 2021-22 school year. According to the report, one in every five female students reported unwanted sexual contact in an anonymous poll. The poll findings were the best since the Defence Department began collecting such information many years ago.
The U.S. According to a Pentagon report to tackle an alarming rise in sexual assaults and misconduct.
Overall, student-reported assaults at the academies increased by 18% from the previous year, fuelled partly by the Navy, which had nearly doubled in 2022 compared to 2021. The report’s anonymous survey indicated rises in all sorts of unwanted sexual contact at all schools, from touching to rape. It also mentioned alcohol as a major component.
In response to the increase in assaults, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered on-site inspections at the United States Naval Academy in Maryland, the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado, and the United States Military Academy at West Point in New York to investigate the problems and find answers. The new report, which is set to be issued on Thursday, provides various short- and long-term recommendations to increase assault and harassment prevention and to eliminate toxic environments that exacerbate the problems. Austin has directed that the changes be implemented as soon as possible.
Austin says in a memo that the academies “have far more work to do to prevent sexual assault and harassment.” He says the rise in attacks and harassment is “disturbing and unacceptable.” It puts our comrades in danger and reduces our readiness.”
According to officials acquainted with the study at the Pentagon, while the academies have many strong programs, poisonous and unhealthy command climates make them less effective. When cadets and midshipmen learn about leadership or prevention in the classroom but don’t see it reinforced in other contexts, it sends contradictory signals about what to expect, how to be treated, and how to treat others, according to one officer.
The U.S. According to a Pentagon report to tackle an alarming rise in sexual assaults and misconduct.
They claimed that mixed messages breed cynicism and distrust.
The officials cited the Pentagon Air Force Academy’s long-standing practice of treating freshmen unfairly, creating hazing and an unhealthy environment. They believe such pupils will leave the academy with a distorted view of what constitutes excellent leadership.
They also mentioned that, like other college students, many more cadets and midshipmen are arriving at the academies with a history of bad behavior, ranging from assaults and harassment to suicidal thoughts or attempts. In addition, the research states that entering students suffer a lot of stress as they deal with their schooling and military training.
According to the survey, in many situations, student leaders need to be trained and equipped to manage these concerns or provide sufficient support to students.
Another issue, according to officials, is the growing power of social media, where bullying and harassment can go unnoticed. According to the research, Jodel is an anonymous social networking app that focuses on a certain place and is widely used by academy students.
According to the report, the app can provide students with false information about assault prevention, reporting, options, and military justice, making them less likely to seek help.
It said that academies’ training has not kept up with change, such as the ever-changing social media platforms and how students differ today from in the past.
SOURCE – (AP)
