West Point Remains Committed To Creating A Culture Of Trust

WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Department of Defense released its annual Report on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the Military Service Academies today noting the U.S. Military Academy’s Return to Health Policy was acknowledged as a best practice to be implemented as a policy baseline in academic year 2022-2023 at other service academies.   

During academic year 2021-2022, higher rates of unwanted sexual contact at West Point were driven by an increase in unwanted touching. The academy strives for a decrease in unwanted sexual contact in any form.

“West Point is fully committed to implementing programs focused on preventing harmful behaviors and building confidence in all personnel to intervene and stop negative behavior. Safe, positive environments promote healthy, cohesive, and disciplined teams that our nation expects from us,” said U.S. Military Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Steven W. Gilland. “We take any allegation seriously and investigate appropriately using our dedicated resources.”

West Point continues to implement a comprehensive and integrated prevention approach to address the underlying risk and protective factors of harmful behaviors while improving prevention efforts throughout the cadet-developmental experience. 

Collective initiatives instituted at West Point to create a culture of trust this past year include:

• Established the ACT (Addressing Sexual Assault/Sexual Harassment, Creating Health Climates, Tackling Holistic Health) Program, an initiative led by over 200 trained cadets who conduct peer-led education conversations and plan and execute prevention weeks throughout the year with the entire student body of 4,400 cadets.  
• Initiated Prevention Deep Dives, briefs that examine a relevant cultural topic and focus on how cadets can impact the overall culture and climate at West Point.
• Conducted bystander intervention training led by trained facilitators in conjunction with the Theatre Arts Guild to role play scenarios that increase awareness of harmful behaviors and respond positively to influence the outcome.
• Raised Service Academy Gender Relations survey participation rate to 92% in 2022 from 75% in 2018 through active leadership involvement and encouragement to support.
• Increased staffing for prevention programs and took steps to better protect the confidentiality of cadets who are victims of sexual violence.

For more information or to access the report, visit www.sapr.mil.

About West Point  

The U.S. Military Academy at West Point is a four-year, co-educational, federal, liberal arts college located 50 miles north of New York City. It was founded in 1802 as America’s first college of engineering and continues today as the world’s premier leader-development institution, consistently ranked among top colleges in the country. Its mission remains constant—to educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the nation as an officer in the U. S. Army. For more information, go to www.westpoint.edu.