12:46 am UTC Jul. 1, 2021 Combatting sexual violence in the military is becoming more paramount as time passes. Between 2018 and 2019, restricted reports of sexual assault (those that weren't investigated per the victims' wishes) went up by 17%, and formal reports by 10%, according to Pentagon data released last year. In addition, military sexual assault harms female recruitment and retention. The Department of Defense’s apparent inability to curb sexual violence threatens the most vulnerable – and, as more roles have opened to women, perhaps the most needed – military employees. In April, the Army released the full investigation into the April 2020 disappearance and death of Spc. Vanessa Guillén. The story of her harassment and killing went viral last year, prompting protests over the way the military addresses issues of sexual assault and violence against women.