Air Force Will Discharge Sexual Assault Offenders

Air Force Will Discharge Sexual Assault Offenders
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
By Air Force Staff Sgt. David Salanitri
WASHINGTON July 18, 2013

Airmen who commit sexual assaults will be discharged, and senior commanders must review actions taken on sexual assault cases under new Air Force initiatives that took effect recently.

Air Force Capt. Allison DeVito, chief of victim issues and policy branch for the Air Force judge advocate general, said both recent changes are part of the Air Force's initiative to combat sexual assault and to foster mutual respect and dignity among airmen.

When combined with existing programs, the Air Force's efforts to end sexual assault and support those who report it have been increasing significantly throughout the past year, DeVito said. At the same time, she added, the Air Force is experiencing a surge in its prosecution rates for sexual assault, reflecting results similar to those in the other services.

As of July 2, commanders must initiate administrative discharge processing for any airman -- officer or enlisted -- found to have committed a sexual assault offense after completing any disciplinary action.

This new requirement, which covers a wide range of sex offenses, is triggered by a finding that the airman committed the offense, DeVito said.
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