[h=3]By JULIAN E. BARNES[/h]WASHINGTON—The number of military sexual assaults reported in an anonymous survey have jumped sharply, according to congressional officials.
Sen. Carl Levin (D., Mich.), said the new Pentagon report, showed that there was an average of 70 sexual assaults in the military every day.
The military conducts a survey of sexual assaults every two years. In the most recent survey, to be released later Tuesday, the military estimated there were 26,000 sexual assaults in 2012. In the previous survey, done in 2010, the military estimated 19,000 sexual assaults.
The number of sexual assaults estimated in surveys vastly outpaces the number reported. In 2011, there were 3,192 assaults reported to military authorities. Last year, there were 3,374.
Members of Congress have been sharply criticizing the military's handling of sexual assault cases in recent months.
Monday night, the Pentagon announced that it has removed the Air Force officer in charge of the service's sexual-assault prevention efforts from his post after he was charged by police in Arlington, Va., with sexual battery.
The case has renewed outrage on Capitol Hill as well as calls to overhaul how the military handles and prosecutes sexual assault.
"This arrest speaks volumes about the status and effectiveness about the department of defenses efforts to address the plague of sexual assaults in the military," Mr. Levin said.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh, appearing before the Senate, said the Air Force would likely request jurisdiction in the case of Lt. Col. Jeffrey Krusinski.
Air Force officials said they had made combating sexual assault a critical priority.
"Sexual assault prevention and response efforts are critically important to us," Gen. Welsh said. "It is unacceptable that this occurs anywhere, at any time in our Air Force. We will not quit working this problem."
Lt Col. Krusinski was accused of grabbing the breasts and buttocks of a woman early Sunday morning.
Lt. Col. Krusinski hasn't returned emails requesting comment. Pentagon officials said the officer had no comment.
Write to Julian E. Barnes at [email protected]
Sen. Carl Levin (D., Mich.), said the new Pentagon report, showed that there was an average of 70 sexual assaults in the military every day.
The military conducts a survey of sexual assaults every two years. In the most recent survey, to be released later Tuesday, the military estimated there were 26,000 sexual assaults in 2012. In the previous survey, done in 2010, the military estimated 19,000 sexual assaults.
The number of sexual assaults estimated in surveys vastly outpaces the number reported. In 2011, there were 3,192 assaults reported to military authorities. Last year, there were 3,374.
Members of Congress have been sharply criticizing the military's handling of sexual assault cases in recent months.
Monday night, the Pentagon announced that it has removed the Air Force officer in charge of the service's sexual-assault prevention efforts from his post after he was charged by police in Arlington, Va., with sexual battery.
The case has renewed outrage on Capitol Hill as well as calls to overhaul how the military handles and prosecutes sexual assault.
"This arrest speaks volumes about the status and effectiveness about the department of defenses efforts to address the plague of sexual assaults in the military," Mr. Levin said.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh, appearing before the Senate, said the Air Force would likely request jurisdiction in the case of Lt. Col. Jeffrey Krusinski.
Air Force officials said they had made combating sexual assault a critical priority.
"Sexual assault prevention and response efforts are critically important to us," Gen. Welsh said. "It is unacceptable that this occurs anywhere, at any time in our Air Force. We will not quit working this problem."
Lt Col. Krusinski was accused of grabbing the breasts and buttocks of a woman early Sunday morning.
Lt. Col. Krusinski hasn't returned emails requesting comment. Pentagon officials said the officer had no comment.
Write to Julian E. Barnes at [email protected]