The number of troops reporting unwanted sexual contact to the military dropped last year, a trend that may be viewed as a mixed blessing amid the Pentagon's efforts to address sex crimes.
About 7,000 troops reported unwanted sexual contact in 2024, a 4% decrease compared with the previous year, according to Pentagon data.
Last year's reported sexual assaults amounted to about 25% of the estimated 29,000 incidents of unwanted sexual contact among troops. The Pentagon continues efforts to increase reporting and hold perpetrators accountable.
The Pentagon's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response office director, Nathan Galbreath, is satisfied with the number of reports despite the decrease, emphasizing the importance of military members coming forward.
Advocates have raised concerns about new policies affecting justice for survivors of sexual assault in the military, including a memo from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that advocates argue may discourage troops from filing complaints.
The Pentagon found that 1% of the complaints in 2024 were unfounded. Galbreath assured that the memo would not affect how sexual assault and harassment complaints are handled.