US military academies see decrease in reported sexual assaults in 2024 after previous historic high
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A Pentagon report reveals a significant decrease in sexual assaults at U.S. military academies in 2024, though officials stress ongoing efforts are needed to maintain progress.
A new Pentagon report released on Thursday reveals that the rate of sexual assaults at U.S. military academies significantly decreased in 2024, following the highest rate ever recorded in 2022. Despite this improvement, officials caution that continued efforts are necessary to sustain this progress, as the current rate still remains higher than in previous years.
Beth Foster, the executive director of the Office of Force Resiliency for the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, told reporters that the data indicates the reforms and recommendations being implemented are beginning to have an effect. “We believe this data indicates that we are on the right track,” she said. “But unless we continue to institutionalize that work, there is a possibility that these rates and this trend could go right back up again.”
The Annual Report on Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence at the Military Academies highlighted that 783 cadets and midshipmen experienced sexual assault in 2024, down from 1,136 in 2022, when the last prevalence survey was conducted. The 2022 report had been particularly concerning, with Foster calling the high rate of assaults “extremely disappointing and upsetting.”
While Foster called the 2024 data “encouraging,” she also acknowledged that the number of assaults remains high compared to past years. “It is the second highest estimated number of students experiencing unwanted sexual contact on record,” said Lisa Davis, deputy director of Health & Resilience Research at the Office of People Analytics.
The report also showed a slight decrease in the number of reported assaults. Only about one in eight individuals who experienced sexual assault filed a report, which officials say signals a need for further improvements in the reporting system. “What I would say is that compared to the active force, our rates of reporting are much lower at the academies,” Dr. Nate Galbreath, director of the Department of Defense Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, noted. “So we think that there’s more work to be done there.”
Foster attributed the decline in assault incidents to the “unprecedented” investments made in addressing assault and harassment, particularly within the military academies. Evaluations conducted in 2023 revealed that incidents of assault were a “lagging indicator” of a broader issue—an unhealthy climate at the academies. This toxic climate included a “lack of trust” and transparency, according to Dr. Andra Tharp, director of the Office of Command, Climate and Well-being Integration. Despite signs of improvement in the overall trust among cadets, women remained significantly less trusting of the system than their male counterparts.
This report follows a broader Pentagon study released in May, which showed a slight decrease in sexual assault reports across the military as a whole for the first time in nearly a decade. The 2023 report indicated that 7,266 service members reported sexual assault, a drop from 7,387 in the previous year. Additionally, the report found that approximately 29,061 service members experienced unwanted sexual contact in 2023, a significant reduction from an estimated 35,875 in 2021.
Foster had previously emphasized that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s prioritization of addressing sexual assault and harassment was beginning to show results. Austin’s commitment to combating these issues was reinforced by his decision to allocate more than $1 billion in the 2024 fiscal year toward reducing sexual assault and harassment in the military. “While it’s impossible for us to know exactly why we’re seeing this decrease in sexual assault prevalence,” Foster said at the time, “we are cautiously optimistic that the department’s unprecedented investment is having an impact, particularly when it comes to our focus on prevention and building a healthy climate.”
While these reports reflect positive trends, officials acknowledge that significant work remains to be done. The decrease in assault rates at military academies and across the military in general is encouraging, but experts stress that maintaining these improvements will require ongoing commitment and investment. Addressing issues of trust, reporting, and climate within the military will be critical to continuing the momentum toward reducing sexual assault and harassment in the armed forces.
In conclusion, the decrease in sexual assault rates at U.S. military academies in 2024 is a promising step, but the Pentagon remains cautious and aware that more work is needed to ensure that the progress made is sustainable and that further improvements can be achieved in the future.
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