NORFOLK, Va. — Despite Congressionally required safeguards that have been enacted, new allegations of sexual misconduct in the nation's Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) program have come to light.
The JROTC program includes more than 3,500 U.S. high schools and more than 500,000 students.
It has been a cornerstone of American education and leadership development since its establishment in 1916.
But now, a Department of Defense (DOD) report to Congress shows that 21 JROTC instructors were accused of sexual misconduct in the 2022-23 school year.
According to the report, 13 of the assault claims were substantiated, four were not substantiated, and four remain under review.
Complaints were made in 12 states, with seven in Texas, four in Florida and one each in North Carolina and Virginia.
DOD leaders and the individual military branches have long called such behavior unacceptable.
"The Department of Defense has an unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of all JROTC participants and to holding personnel accountable to any misconduct," said Thomas Constable, Assistant secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, when he testified before the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability in November 2022.
In 2022, the New York Times reported that at least 33 JROTC instructors had been criminally charged with sexual misconduct in the preceding five years.
And the Pentagon revealed between 2012 and 2022 that, over the preceding 10 years, military officials received 114 allegations of instructors committing violence, sexual abuse or sexual harassment against JROTC cadets.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) has led the push for reform.
In a news release published on her website last week, she said, "It's critical that we protect JROTC students from harm."