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Reports of sexual assault drop in Air Force

Airmen reported fewer sexual assaults last year, the only drop for any of the four services, according to a Defense Department report.

The number of sexual assaults for all the military increased 11 percent, but the Air Force had an 11 percent decrease. Airmen reported 546 sexual assaults during fiscal 2009, which ended Sept. 30. There were 607 reports in 2008.

Air Force officials said they are not sure why there was a decline in sexual assault reports.

“We have not identified any cause of or contributing factors to the drop in total reports,” Daniel Ginsberg, assistant secretary of the Air Force for manpower, wrote in a cover letter with the report.

Air Force Times requested interviews with service officials who oversaw the report, issued March 16. Air Force spokesman 1st. Lt. Derek White said officials would not be available for interviews until March 22 at the earliest.

The Air Force has not ruled out that the results are an indication that airmen did not talk with counselors or law enforcement officials.

“Even though it might only be a single-year anomaly, we are watching for trends ... ,” Ginsberg wrote.

Few of the complaints resulted in criminal or nonjudical punishment.

Of the 183 cases presented to commanders for action, 20 led to courts-martial for sexual offenses and seven to nonjudicial Article 15 actions for sexual offenses. In another 46 cases, the commander found probable cause for charges other than sexual assault.

According to the report, female airmen made up nearly 93 percent of the victims. More than three- quarters of the women held the ranks of airman, airman first class, senior airman or staff sergeant.

Of the assailants, 98 percent were male airmen. More than half of the men held the ranks of airman, airman first class, senior airman or staff sergeant.

Two male colonels, whose names were not disclosed, were disciplined in connection with sexual assaults, the report said.

One, assigned to McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., was accused of “wrongful sexual contact” with a female airman first class. He received a reprimand and nonjudicial punishment.

The other, stationed at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, was reported for wrongful sexual contact with a civilian woman in a base swimming pool. The colonel received nonjudicial punishment resulting in a reprimand and forfeiture of $9,262 in pay.