DoD Releases New Sexual Assault Policies

Many came from Congress or are already in place

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel approved six new orders Thursday to address sexual assault in the military, although Pentagon officials also acknowledged many of the ideas originally came from Congress or are already in practice.

The initiatives — simultaneously trumpeted in a White House statement — include an expansion of an advocacy program for victims to all military branches and giving higher-ranking officers a larger role in tracking cases from the initial report through the final judicial stages.