Lloyd J. Austin III Secretary of Defence | Official website
On his first day as Secretary of Defense, the incumbent prioritized countering sexual assault and harassment in the military, declaring these issues as unacceptable within the U.S. military. The Secretary emphasized the need for cohesion, trust, dignity, and security for every member of the force.
Over the past three years, unprecedented steps have been taken by the Department to address this issue. This includes swift and rigorous implementation of approved recommendations from the Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military, along with establishing Offices of Special Trial Counsel.
The Department of Defense recently released its Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military. The report's findings indicate progress in preventing sexual assault and harassment within military ranks. For the first time in over eight years, a decrease in sexual assault prevalence has been recorded.
The Secretary expressed gratitude towards those who committed time and resources to achieve these encouraging results but stressed that there is still much work to be done.
Last week, a meeting was convened with the Deputy Secretary, Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, Service Secretaries, and Service Chiefs to discuss these findings. The Secretary underscored that while significant progress has been made, efforts must be doubled to eradicate sexual assault and harassment entirely. He reiterated that this remains a critical readiness issue across all joint forces.
The Secretary concluded by stating that any instances of sexual assault or harassment within the U.S. military are unacceptable. The goal is zero tolerance for such actions as it is an obligation to all service members to get this right.
