Fort Hood reports the most sexual assaults of any Army post

Fort Hood had the most sexual assaults of any Army post over from 2013 to 2016, and the second most of any U.S. military installation in the world, according to a report the Pentagon released Friday.

The Department of Defense uses the term “sexual assault” to refer to adult sex crimes punishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, including rape, sexual assault, forcible sodomy, aggravated and abusive sexual contact and attempts to commit those offenses.

The Pentagon classifies reports of sexual assault as either unrestricted or restricted.

An unrestricted report is referred for investigation and the commanders of the service member who made it are notified as well as the alleged suspect or suspects.

A restricted report is not referred for criminal investigation or to commanders and allows the service member who made it to seek confidential support, medical care and counseling.

In fiscal year 2013, Fort Hood, which is among the country’s largest Army posts, had 165 unrestricted sexual assault reports and 42 restricted reports for a total of 207.

In fiscal year 2014, the post had 212 unrestricted sexual assault reports and 50 restricted reports for a total of 262.

In fiscal year 2015, the post had 164 unrestricted reports and 31 restricted reports for a total of 195.

And in fiscal year 2016, Fort Hood had 155 unrestricted sexual assault reports and 44 restricted reports for a total of 199.

Among all military installations, Naval Station Norfolk, Va., the largest of the country’s naval bases, had the most.

The installation had a total of 231 reports in fiscal 2013, 363 in fiscal 2014, 291 in fiscal 2015 and 270 in fiscal 2016.

The number of reports don’t necessarily reflect the number of sexual assaults that occurred at a particular installation, however.

"One of the features of the department's reporting program is that service members can report allegations of sexual assault at any time and at any place," said Dr. Nate Galbreath, deputy director DoD Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office.

"As a result, the number of reports listed for an installation doesn't necessarily mean that the alleged incident occurred there. A report could involve allegations for an incident that occurred while on deployment, while away on leave, or even prior to entering the military,” he said.

“This kind of flexibility allows the department to better meet the department's goals to increase reporting of sexual assault and decrease the occurrence of the crime through prevention."