Letter to the Honorable Ray Mabus, Secretary of the Navy - Military Sexual Assault

Letter

U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) today called for strong leadership from Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus to stamp out sexual assault at the Naval Academy in Annapolis. While our Armed Forces face a rising tide in sexual assault, the Service Academies which train our future military leaders have inconsistent policies for prevention of and response to sexual assaults.

"I have been working on this issue for more than 25 years and keep hearing that the military has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to sexual assault. The message stays the same but the problem keeps getting worse," Senator Mikulski wrote. "Service academies should be a point of prevention in stopping illegal and unethical behavior. Cadets and midshipmen are watching how their leaders handle these crimes. If we are going to end sexual assault in the military, we need to start by ending it at the institutions that train our future leaders."

As a member of the Board of Visitors to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis since 1987, Senator Mikulski has continued to work for prevention and prosecution of sexual assault.

In May, Senator Mikulski cosponsored the Military Justice Improvement Act, bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would reform the military justice system by removing the decision whether to take a case to special or general court-martial completely out of the chain of command and give that discretion to experienced military prosecutors for all crimes punishable by one year or more in confinement, except crimes that are uniquely military in nature, such as disobeying orders or going AWOL.

On Tuesday June 11, as Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Mikulski will participate in a hearing with Defense Department leadership including Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey where she will reiterate her commitment to ending sexual assault at our Service Academies and throughout the Armed Forces.

Senator Mikulski's letter to Navy Secretary Mabus follows:

June 10, 2013

The Honorable Ray Mabus
Secretary of the Navy
1000 Navy Pentagon
Washington, DC 20350

Dear Secretary Mabus:

I am writing to follow-up on our phone conversation on June 4, 2013 regarding sexual assault in our military and service academies. This is one of the most serious issues facing our forces, particularly with regard to the training of our Officer Corps. I appreciate your commitment to provide me with a catalogue of all actions you have initiated to address this problem at the Naval Academy as well as an analysis of their efficacy.

I have been working on this issue for more than 25 years and keep hearing that the military has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to sexual assault. The message stays the same but the problem keeps getting worse. In fact, incidences of sexual violence rose by 23% at the service academies last year.

I am deeply troubled that there are inconsistent policies among the service academies for prevention of and response to sexual assaults. There is also a lack of strong leadership prepared to address this epidemic. Therefore, I would like to know:

1. What are the criteria for selecting a Superintendent?
2. What are the criteria for retaining a Superintendent?

Service academies should be a point of prevention in stopping illegal and unethical behavior. Cadets and midshipmen are watching how their leaders handle these crimes. If we are going to end sexual assault in the military, we need to start by ending it at the institutions that train our future leaders.

I look forward to a prompt response from you to this request.

Sincerely,

Barbara A. Mikulski
United States Senator

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