Pentagon Says 13 Percent Jump in Sexual Assault Reports in Military Is ‘Tragic and Disappointing’

Members of the military and first responders stand in salute as an American flag is unfurled on the side of the Pentagon to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, in Arlington, Va., on Sept. 11, 2022. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

The number of sexual assault reports in the United States Armed Forces surged during the fiscal year 2021, according to an annual report released by the Department of Defense (DOD) in August.

The report (pdf) showed that the department received a total of 8,866 reports of sexual assault, which marks a roughly 13 percent increase from the 7,816 reports made in the fiscal year 2020.