WICHITA FALLS, Texas (AP) - Most students at a military base where about two dozen women reported being raped in the past year said they believe the leadership handles assault allegations effectively, a preliminary review found.

It also showed that 95 percent of female students at Sheppard Air Force Base said they felt safe there.

The Air Force said in a news release Thursday that the review found students might not report sexual assaults because of concerns their training would be delayed or that they might be disciplined for misconduct such as underage drinking. They also worried about embarrassment, loss of confidentiality and peer pressure.

But the review also said base agencies have good resources to respond to reports of sexual assault and to assist victims. It suggested expanding training for students and others to put more emphasis on sexual assault awareness, deterrence and reporting.

The report was prompted by a civilian rape crisis center's report that between 20 to 25 Sheppard women said they were raped in the 12 months ending last August. The command's investigative team interviewed more than 1,000 people at the base and surveyed more than 5,000 students.

The report said 90 percent of students think leadership effectively handles sexual assault allegations and encourages reporting.

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, who requested the investigation, said the findings raise more questions. She also said she was concerned that 10 percent of students lack confidence in base leadership.

"That number should be close to zero," she said.

The Air Education and Training Command at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, which conducted the review, said a review of 45 sexual assault cases at Sheppard from 1993 to 2003 that resulted in completed courts-martial or nonjudicial punishments showed these cases were handled appropriately.

The command is reviewing 69 investigations since 1996 that did not result in either courts-martial or nonjudicial punishment.

About 3,800 airmen and 6,100 students are stationed at Sheppard's 82nd training wing, which does technical training. Another 450 pilots from 13 nations train every year at the base's 80th flying training wing. Those numbers include about 1,800 women.
 

2004-02-27     15:19:16 GMT
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