Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby holds a press briefing, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Feb. 22, 2021. (DoD photo by Lisa Ferdinando)

By Gary Raynaldo    DIPLOMTIC  TIMES

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III is looking forward to recommendations of a Pentagon Commission that will probe the problem of sexual assault in the military, according to his spokesperson.  The commission to examine the problem of sexual assault should begin work soon, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said during a news conference Monday. The commission has 90 days to compile its recommendations. Kirby said the secretary will not wait until the end of the commission to implement recommendations he feels would be helpful.  Secretary of Defense  Austin said  last Friday sexual assault is tolerated in the U.S. Military and that concrete steps are being  taken to prevent it.    The Defense Secretary addressed the  issue of sexual harassment one day after a female U.S. Marine posted a video online TikTok  Thursday angrily accusing  a general of  intervening to stop the ouster of another Marine she accused of sexual assault and exposing once again the lack of  military oversight and accountability such cases.  The woman alleges that a general intervened in the case to allow her assailant to remain in the Marines.   Last year, the Pentagon reported a 3% increase in sexual assaults in 2019. Secretary Austin met with senior Pentagon leaders on Monday to give them his feedback on their inputs for combatting sexual assault.  U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III is looking forward to recommendations of a Pentagon Commission that will probe the problem of sexual assault in the military. The commission to examine the problem of sexual assault should begin work soon, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said during a news conference Monday. The commission has 90 days to compile its recommendations. Kirby said the secretary will not wait until the end of the commission to implement recommendations he feels would be helpful.   Secretary Austin met with senior Pentagon leaders on Monday to give them his feedback on their inputs for combatting sexual assault.  

“As you know, it was his first directive on his second day in office to ask the services to provide him input on what they felt they were doing right, what they needed to improve and the ideas they had going forward. He had the opportunity to review that work and talk to them about that today. It was a good productive discussion.”

-Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby