![]() ![]() “Include in your report the consideration of novel approaches to any of these areas,” he said, adding that “we must not be afraid to get creative.”Īnd Austin said he plans to host a meeting on the matter with senior leaders in the coming days. And he asked for relevant data for the past decade, including efforts to support victims. The directive calls for each leader to submit a summary of the sexual assault and harassment measures they have taken in the last year that show promise, and an assessment of those that didn't. In his hearing and in the memo, Austin acknowledged that the military has long struggled with the problem, but must do better. He was in the Pentagon again Saturday, making calls to defense counterparts around the world, and he signed the memo. Austin arrived at the Pentagon on Friday shortly after noon, but he spent his first hours as defense chief in meetings with key leaders as he began the transition to his new job. Technically, the directive came on Day Two. “Do I have your commitment to be relentless on this issue until we can end the scourge of sexual violence in the military?”Īustin agreed, telling senators, “This starts with me and you can count on me getting after this on Day One.” Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., said during Austin's confirmation hearing. “You do agree that we can’t keep doing the same thing that we’ve been doing for the past decade?” Sen. The 2018 increase fueled congressional anger over the issue, and lawmakers have repeatedly called for action, including changes in the Code of Military Justice. Reports of sexual assaults have steadily gone up since 2006, according to department reports, including a 13% jump in 2018 and a 3% increase in 2019. Senator after senator demanded to know what Austin planned to do about the problem, which defense and military leaders have grappled with for years. “This is a leadership issue,” Austin said in his two-page memo. He had vowed to immediately address the problems of sexual assault and harassment in the ranks. WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, in his first directive since taking office, has given his senior leaders two weeks to send him reports on sexual assault prevention programs in the military, and an assessment of what has worked and what hasn't.Īustin's memo, which went out Saturday, fulfills a commitment he made to senators last week during confirmation hearings.
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