Reports of military sexual assault are currently investigated by a victim's superiors, known as the Chain of Command, leading to a conflict of interest and further traumatization for rape victims. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's bill, the Military Justice Improvement Act, intended to remove the Chain of Command from sexual assault prosecution was struck down by the Senate in March 2014. Military members are contractually obligated to serve and respect the Chain of Command, and when a service member is raped, he or she has no escape. In 2012, the Pentagon estimated 26,000 sexual assaults occurred, with only 3,374 being reported, and even fewer actually being prosecuted. The Chain of Command must be removed from investigations, and replaced by independent prosecutors to defend helpless victims.
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