11/02/2025
I’m
Several US military branches are pausing training related to the prevention of sexual assault to comply with one of President Donald Trump’s executive orders on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
A directive issued by Marine Corps headquarters on Feb. 4 “asked the fleet to PAUSE on all (Sexual Assault Prevention and Reporting) training due to recent changes within the White House to remove diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) from all federal policies,” according to an email obtained by the Los Angeles Times.
The Navy also confirmed it would cease such training for a period of time.
“The Navy is working to fully execute and implement all directives outlined in the Executive Orders issued by the President, ensuring that they are carried out with utmost professionalism, efficiency, and in alignment with national security objectives,” an official Navy statement said.
A military official, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, also confirmed the policy change within the Marine Corps to the Times. Requests for comment from the Department of Defense, the Army, Coast Guard and Air Force were not immediately returned. Details of the training policy change were first reported by Business Insider on Feb. 6.
The types of training now frozen include lessons focused on the nature of consent and sexual harassment, as well as instructions on how to safely report abuse within the military, according to the military official who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The Sexual Assault Prevention and Reporting training program was launched in 2005 and is considered “the central authority charged with preventing sexual assault in the military,” according to the program’s website.
Read the full story: https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/2025-02-07/military-freezes-sexual-assault-prevention-training-16761202.html
📰 Source: Stars and Stripes