Washington, DC  -  Trying to help put an end to sexual assaults against American female service members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, Congressman Mike Rogers sent a letter to Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Dr. David S.C. Chu yesterday highlighting his concerns about repeated reports of sexual assault by U.S. military personnel and indifference to sexual assault allegations in the military’s chain of command.

“Our soldiers serving in combat zones face many military threats and should not need to be concerned about sexual assaults from their comrades,” Rogers said in the letter. “Most disturbing to me are reports that some servicewomen who have reported sexual assaults in Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan also claim that the military leadership failed to launch criminal investigations into their allegations and did not provide them with proper medical attention or counseling.

“Further, they claim that male superiors retaliated against them after they accused fellow servicemen of the assault.

“Additionally, leaders must create a command climate in which all service members feel comfortable in approaching their chain of command with the confidence that they will not be unfairly treated or their claims summarily dismissed.”

Rogers added today that while these incidents are highly disturbing, he is aware these incidents do not reflect the behavior of the vast majority of the military, and continues to have every confidence that the leadership of our nation’s armed forces will work to end these abuses.