President Biden vowed to take on the causes of rampant sexual assault cases plaguing the U.S. military, particularly the Army where the branch made national headlines in 2020, following the suspicious and violent deaths of more than 25 soldiers on its one of its largest bases, Fort Hood.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made it clear he shares the president’s concerns, making his first official order of business to collect data from military leaders.
The secretary called for a summary of sexual assault and harassment prevention measures taken in the last year, from several senior pentagon leaders Jan. 23. Austin said the reports should be in by Feb. 5.
According to the memo, the summaries should focus on how officials are overseeing prevention and accountability programs, in addition to providing data-driven assessments.
“I look forward to working with you as we defend the United States. But as I said before… we cannot accomplish that mission if we also have to battle enemies within the ranks… the scourge of sexual assault,” Secretary Austin said in a memo.
The order comes after former Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy fired several top Army officials in Fort Hood, following the national attention. His tenure came under scrutiny for his handling of the missing and dead soldiers, including backlash from victims’ family members, who say McCarthy offered talk, but no solutions.
Austin has already pledged to take on issues like racism and sexual assault in the military. He says his plans are in accordance with the president, who ordered a 90-day commission to pursue solutions to sexual assault in the military.
In the memo, he said he plans to meet with the senior leaders in the coming days to discuss their progress on the matter.