New Air Force policy aims to better handle sexual harassment claims – By Rachel S. Cohen (Military Times) / Oct 19, 2022
Troops in the Department of the Air Force can now access the same resources to deal with sexual harassment as they would for sexual assault under a recent policy change.
Airmen and Space Force guardians who are sexually harassed can file a confidential report to their local Sexual Assault Prevention and Response office to get support from a victim advocate or response coordinator. The move brings sexual assault and harassment reporting under one roof as part of a broader slate of reforms to help victims.
“Sexual harassment does not reflect who we are as an organization and has no place in the military,” said Brig. Gen. Debra Lovette, head of the Air Force’s personal and professional resilience initiatives. “For service members victimized by this harmful behavior, it can be crippling, preventing them from coming forward out of fear of further harassment or the perceived lack of support from their leaders or coworkers.”
Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, quid pro quos and other actions or comments that make someone uncomfortable can constitute harassment.
