The Elusive Victory in Eradicating Military Sexual Assault The Pentagon's latest report on military sexual assault has reignited a longstanding debate: are increasing numbers of service members reporting unwanted contact evidence that the problem is being tackled, or merely a sign that it remains deeply ingrained?
At first glance, the data appears to suggest progress – more personnel are now willing to come forward, and the overall frequency of incidents has dropped. However, this narrative is far from straightforward.
The numbers are striking: 33 percent of active duty personnel who experienced unwanted sexual contact in fiscal year 2025 filed a report, up from 25 percent just two years prior.