The estimated number of sexual assaults against U.S. military personnel fell to 20,492 in the year before fiscal 2025, down from 29,000 in 2023 and 35,900 in 2021. The Defense Department’s annual report attributes the decline to expanded prevention programs and standardized oversight across services, including Indo-Pacific Command assessments and joint-base evaluations.
Reporting rates rose, with one in three victims filing formal complaints compared to one in four in 2023. Confidence in the system improved for men, with 65% trusting the new Office of Special Trial Counsel to handle cases fairly, but only 44% of women shared that confidence. The Marine Corps reported the highest prevalence of unwanted sexual contact among women at 6.8%, while the Navy had the highest rate for men at 1.5%.
Advocacy groups question the data’s reliability, citing fears of retaliation and lost prosecutions. Protect Our Defenders noted that while assault rates for women matched 2016 levels, the 1% rate for men exceeded the 2018 figure. The Pentagon cautions that methodological changes since 2021 limit direct comparisons to earlier years.
The report frames the decline as progress in addressing behaviors that undermine unit readiness, but underscores ongoing challenges in trust and accountability.
