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Rep. Murray (D-Wa) and Senator Ayottoe (R-NH) introduce Combating Military Sexual Assault (MSA) Act of 2013.

The Combating MSA Act would:

•Provide victims of sexual assault with Special Victims Counsel (SVC) – a military lawyer who will assist sexual assault victims throughout the process.

•Enhance the responsibilities and authority of DoD’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Office so that it can better oversee efforts to combat MSA across the Armed Forces and regularly track and report on a range of MSA statistics, including assault rate, number of cases brought to trial, and compliance with appropriate laws and regulations within each of the individual services.

•Refer cases to the general court martial level when sexual assault charges are filed or to the next superior competent authority when there is a conflict of interest in the immediate chain of command.

•Bar sexual contact between instructors and trainees during and within 30 days of completion of basic training or its equivalent.

•Ensure that Sexual Assault Response Coordinators (SARC) are available to members of the National Guard and Reserve at all times and regardless of whether they are operating under Title 10 or Title 32 authority.

•One particularly important aspect of the bill: Lack of consent need not be proven in a prosecution. Consent is not a defense.

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Deja Vu? Abuse Allegations for a Second 'Sexual Assault Prevention Officer' in the Military

You know there is a really serious sexual assault problem in the military when not one, but two soldiers assigned to monitor and prevent sexual assault are charged or investigated for sexual abuse in the span of just one week. Yesterday, the Associated Press reported that an as-yet unnamed U.S. Army Sergeant First Class at the Army’s 3rd Corps headquarters in Fort Hood, Texas was “under investigation for ‘abusive sexual contact’ and other alleged misconduct and has been suspended from his duties.” The equal opportunity adviser/ coordinator of a sexual harassment-assault prevention program, the AP said, “is accused of pandering, abusive sexual contact, assault and maltreatment of subordinates,” but no charges have been filed. USA Today states that unnamed sources in Washington told them the sergeant was “forcing a subordinate into prostitution and sexually assaulting two others.” http://www.alternet.org/deja-vu-abuse-allegations-second-sexual-assaul
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