Sexual assault in the U.S. military happens when someone in the military touches or does something sexual to another person without their permission. It's a really bad thing that can hurt people and make them feel scared and uncomfortable.
The military is like a big family, where everyone is supposed to take care of each other and work together. But sometimes, some people in the military don't follow the rules and hurt other people. That's when sexual assault can happen.
Sexual assault can happen to anyone in the military - women, men, and people who identify as non-binary. It can happen when someone is in basic training, deployed overseas, or even just working in an office. That's why it's really important for everyone in the military to understand what sexual assault is, and to know how to report it if it happens to them or to someone else.
The military has rules and laws that are supposed to protect people from sexual assault. They have trained people called Sexual Assault Response Coordinators (SARCs), who are there to help victims of sexual assault get the support they need. They also have rules that say that someone who is accused of sexual assault must be investigated and punished if they are found guilty.
However, sometimes the military doesn't do enough to protect people from sexual assault. Victims may not feel comfortable reporting sexual assault because they worry about retaliation or not being taken seriously. Some people who commit sexual assault may get away with it because they are not punished enough, or at all. This is something that needs to change so that everyone in the military can feel safe and protected.