Defence leaders claim that dozens of young adults who have served in the military have made sexual assault claims against instructors or colleagues.
According to The Sun, an Army college in Harrogate, north Yorkshire, is attended by school-leavers as young as 16 years old, and over half of those claiming to be victims of sex crimes were there for training.
One in ten young females serving in the military report having experienced a sexual assault, according to statistics that were released barely one year after a report by MPs accused military leaders of concealing rape and other forms of sexual abuse in order to protect themselves.
Following a Commons defence committee investigation, new data provided by ministers indicate that 47 recruits under the age of 18 may have reported experiencing sexual assault or rape in the previous year.
The investigation found that top commanders had let down female military personnel.
According to Leo Docherty, minister of the armed forces, 37 of the 47 victims were female, with one case being confirmed, four being investigated, and 11 being turned over to the civilian police.
The Royal Military, which is in charge of maintaining order among service members, often handles incidents inside the military.
At the time of the offence, 22 of the complaints were stationed at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate.
According to statistics, there were close to 300 females who were under 18 and served in the troops at the time of the assaults.
Former Army commanding commander Colonel Philip Ingram said, “These figures are alarming no matter how you look at them.
They point out the most elementary errors in leadership at several levels, yet it takes a parliamentary question from the same minister who consistently claims that the MoD is making great strides in tackling improper behaviour for the information to reach the public.
Defense will continue to hide what can only be called heinous behaviour as long as there is no independent monitoring.
Sexual assault and harassment are not tolerated in the armed forces, according to a spokeswoman for the MoD. The military police take all claims seriously and look into them.
We keep enhancing reporting processes so that staff members feel secure in submitting concerns and certain that claims will be investigated.
This entails establishing a victim and witness care unit, ensuring that complaints of bullying, harassment, or discrimination are handled by someone not in the chain of command, and bolstering the tools at hand to fire someone who has committed a sexual offence.
The Ministry of Defence issued its zero tolerance policy for sexual offenders inside the armed services earlier this year. Under one method, it applies to the Royal Navy, RAF, and Army.
The introduction of the administrative dismissal from service without the opportunity to serve elsewhere for those found guilty of sexual offences was one of the most significant reforms.
The guideline further stipulates that having a sexual connection with a trainee is prohibited and will result in the instructor’s termination.