Sexual Assault in the Military: Social Work Implications from the Independent Review Commission Recommendations

Overview: The purpose of this panel is to discuss the implications of the Independent Review Commission (IRC) on Sexual Assault report and recommendations. The panel will discuss opportunities for the field of social work to address the education, research, practice and policy recommendations identified by the IRC.Proposal text: In 2021, the Independent Review Commission (IRC) on Sexual Assault in the Military released the results of a review of the military’s current treatment of sexual misconduct. The report included a series of recommendations for addressing accountability, prevention, climate and culture, and support for survivors. In response, DoD released a four-tier roadmap for implementing the recommendations from the IRC report (Secretary of Defense, 2021). The roadmap describes a decades long plan that will transform the departments workforce and response to sexual misconduct. The social work profession is uniquely qualified and positioned to fill gaps identified by the IRC. Social work has the opportunity to be leaders in developing the research, practice, policy and specially trained workforce that will be required to implement these changes. The purpose of this panel is to discuss the implications of the ICR report on military social work and present opportunities for growth and impact for the field.

The panel will begin with a short overview and purpose of the IRC and response from DoD. The panel will then discuss the impact of the implementation of the IRC recommendations and the potential response from social work. First looking at education, DoD plans to undertake a comprehensive approach to professionalizing and strengthening the workforce of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office. Additionally, the IRC recommended a series of new offices aimed at prevention, prosecution, and care for survivors. As Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense are the largest employers of social workers in the U.S. (Department of Defense, 2022; Department of Veterans Affairs, 2022), the panel will discuss how social work can take the lead in training, educating and maintaining a critical workforce that is culturally competent and ready to take on these newly created roles.

The IRC recommendations also focus on the improvement of data collection procedures, to better reflect the experiences of service members with intersecting identities. The panel will discuss how social works expertise in research with special populations can be utilized to develop such methodologies as well as re-envision research to improve victim care and support. The panel will also discuss how current military social work research collaborations can be leveraged and improved to support an IRC recommended research coalition.

Social work may also contribute to the development of new standards of care for survivors of military sexual misconduct. The report highlights the need for increased access to civilian care, creation of peer-based programs, new opportunities for healing and practice that increases victim agency and control. These are aspects of care in which the field of social work has incredible experience to leverage. The panel will discuss the needs for new programs and avenues for care as well as opportunities for program development both at community and federal levels. Lastly, the panel will discuss the policy advocacy needs around accountability and victim advocacy, specifically the long-term policy changes needed not only within DoD but at a federal level, and how social work may play a role in advocating for needed changes.