A report released by the Defense Department revealed that cases of sexual assault in the military have doubled in the last two years. 20,500 instances of assault against both men and women were reported in 2018, representing a 38% increase from those reported in 2016 (Brook par. 1). Alcohol has been cited as one of the reasons for the drastic increase. Key findings show that alcohol misuse among military officers is significantly higher when compared to civilians. Binge drinking has been reported among 33 percent of active military members. Several calls have been made to shift authority over the prosecution of assault cases from commanders to private prosecutors as a mitigation strategy.
A review conducted by the Pentagon revealed that military sexual assaults have increased by 50 percent. These findings prompted defense officials to authorize the implementation of stringent measures to review the sale of alcohol. Sexual assault ranges from improper conduct cases such as unwanted sexual conduct to criminal activities such as rape and sodomy (Brook par. 6). Alcohol contributed to sexual assault in the military because it increases sexual aggression among consumers and heightens vulnerability to sexual assault because of altered judgment (Farris and Hepner p. 6).
Studies show that alcohol increases aggression among young men. Individuals in the military are predisposed to act aggressively because of their training (Farris and Hepner p. 6). Therefore, misuse of alcohol increases their sexual aggression. It is likely that an intoxicated man will misperceive a woman’s sexual intent, and as a result, act aggressively.
In many instances, victimization occurs as a result of an intoxicated person’s actions. Rarely does the behavior of a victim lead to sexual assault. Therefore, vulnerability increases in settings where a potential perpetrator is present and intoxicated. In such a situation, alcohol can have a plethora of effects that could increase the risk of victimization. For instance, it could cause unconsciousness or lower an individual’s awareness of risk indicators in the environment (Farris and Hepner p. 6).
The majority of research studies conducted on the relationship between alcohol misuse and sexual assault have involved college students who have several similarities with military personnel. A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that alcohol was a major component. Approximately 50 percent of women and 20 percent of men reported that either they were intoxicated or the perpetrator was using alcohol prior to the incident (Farris and Hepner p. 6).
Alcohol misuse is a common problem in the military. Misuse comprises several drinking habits like risky drinking and alcohol dependence. Several cases of suicides and motor vehicle accidents involving intoxicated military personnel have been reported, supporting the claim that alcohol misuse is a serious problem in the armed forces (Farris and Hepner p. 6). Others surveys have recorded members saying that they engage in binge drinking once a month or weekly. The rate is higher among newly-enlisted recruits, 26 percent of whom reported binge drinking weekly. Only 16 percent of civilians engage in binge drinking weekly. These statistics are incomparable, and reveal the extent of the problem.
Alcohol misuse is a serious problem in the armed forces. It has been cited as one of the major causes of the sexual assault involving both male and female personnel. Studies have shown that alcohol misuse increases sexual aggression among people who are predisposed to act aggressively. Moreover, it increases vulnerability by lowering one’s awareness of risk indicators and causing unconsciousness. It is important for the military to implement more stringent policies to govern alcohol sale and use among service members in order to reduce cases of sexual assault.
Works Cited
Brook, Tom Vanden. “Shanahan Calls for Reforms as Military Sexual Assaults rise by 38%: Highest for Young Women.” USA Today, 2019. Web.
Farris, Coreen, and Kimberly Hepner. “Targeting Alcohol Misuse: A Promising Strategy for Reducing Military Sexual Assaults?” RAND Health Quarterly, vol. 4, no. 4, p. 6.