EDITORIAL
Air force response to sexual assault is critical

Tailhook and the more recent Air Force Academy scandal have done little to inspire confidence in the U.S. military's handling of sexual assault and sexual harassment cases.

And so it's natural to be concerned about how Pacific Air Forces officials will deal with the 11 personnel reports of rape between 2001 and 2003 at Hickam Air Force base.

Victims' needs

So far, officials appear to be moving in the right direction by consulting with Adriana Ramelli, executive director of the civilian Sex Abuse Treatment Center, who says victims' needs should be put ahead of legal action.

This is an encouraging signal that officials have no intention of keeping this matter contained behind the impenetrable walls of the military establishment.

Reports of the rape allegations emerged this week with the release of a comprehensive review of sexual assault on 12 bases stretching from Alaska and Hawai'i to Guam, Singapore and South Korea. Of the 92 rape allegations, 11 hailed from Hickam.

The review was initiated by Gen. William J. Begert, Hickam-based commander of the Pacific Air Forces, in response to the dozens of rape claims brought by cadets at the Air Force Academy in Colorado.

Changes at Hickam

It has spurred some changes at Hickam, including increased supervision, curfews and limits on alcohol use for young dorm residents. Alcohol factored into about 60 percent of the cases studied.

But the problem runs deeper than alcohol and coed dorms when you're dealing with a traditionally hierarchical, male-dominated culture in which women have been intimidated about coming forward for fear of being accused of somehow provoking the sexual harassment or assault.

As the case of Colorado's Air Force Academy suggests, change won't come easily. Since a new leadership took over the academy last April, at least 12 cases of sexual assault or harassment have been reported.

Taking steps

We do not know the details of the rapes reported in the Pacific Air Forces review. But we commend Gen. Begert for taking the following steps to reduce sexual assaults among Air Force personnel:

• Briefings for new arrivals on the "risks, responses and consequences of sexual assault."

• Air Force lawyers must give commanders a legal review of each sexual-assault investigation that assesses the strength of the case and provides a prosecution recommendation.

• Victim liaisons must be appointed immediately after an offense is reported. They must be trained in crisis intervention and serve as the victim's advocate.

• Victim counseling must be provided even for those whose cases do not go forward because of insufficient evidence.

Ultimately, how the military responds to reports of sexual assault reflects its willingness to guarantee a safer environment for its female members. If the leadership won't adapt, neither will the culture.