Sexual assaults continue among service members abroad
The Miles Foundation says it has received 307 reports from among members of the military.
A nonprofit victim's support group reported Thursday that sexual assaults continue to occur among members of the armed services stationed in Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan and Bahrain.
The Miles Foundation said it has received 307 reports of sexual assaults from soldiers deployed overseas since units were deployed in their respective locations. The victims are predominantly female active-duty service members, but also include active-duty National Guard personnel.
In October 2004, the foundation reported 243 assaults. Foundation spokeswoman Anita Sanchez said the 64 additional assaults underscores what is actually going on in the deployed units.
Assailants include service members, guard personnel, coalition partners and other foreign nationals. The reports include assailants with multiple victims, and victims who have been assaulted multiple times.
"The report is an indication that there's an ongoing challenge relative to sexual assault in deployed units," Sanchez said. "What is of concern to us is that we continue to receive reports of alleged offenders with multiple victims."
Sanchez said the foundation does not know the military's count of sexual assaults and how they compare with the number of assaults reported to victim support group.
The report included 39 cases of sexual assault during pre-deployment training periods. Reports of sexual assaults following deployments were also reported.
In January, the Pentagon announced new policies regarding sexual assault designed to improve the system of preventing and responding to incidents, including a militarywide sexual assault definition, the creation of the position of sexual assault response coordinator and victim advocate, and a checklist for commanders.
Not included was a policy regarding confidentiality, which experts in the field of responding to sexual assaults say is necessary because it gives victims the ability to report incidents.
David Chu, undersecretary of Defense for personnel and readiness, said at the January announcement that the department is committed to a confidential reporting policy, but the legal issues needed to be thoroughly examined. He said that within the next week or two, Pentagon's lawyers should know what is necessary in order for a confidential reporting policy to be implemented.
Chu said legislative action may be needed to implement such a policy.
The Miles report said that 104 of the cases they've been informed of had been reported to military authorities, including chaplains, command criminal investigators and medical personnel. Several victims of sexual assault have returned from deployment without a final disposition of the investigation.
"The availability of supplies, such as rape evidence kits, and trained personnel to provide care and treatment remains a challenge for victims in deployed units," said Kate Summers, the foundation's director of services.