Get serious about Air Force rape reports

It's a shocking accusation against some of the most elite of U.S. military forces: Air Force officials say there have been at least 54 allegations of rape or sexual assault over the past 10 years at their academy outside Colorado Springs.

To put the numbers in perspective, there are only 4,000 students a year at the academy, and less than a quarter of those are female.

The number of rape reports at the academy skyrockets above those at Southeast Missouri State University, where there are twice the number of students, about half are women and there are years that pass without one reported on-campus rape.

What makes the Air Force situation even worse is that many women who are raped never report it because of the shame, especially at the academy.

One woman who said she was raped had to be convinced to report it. She had been told that she shouldn't if she wanted a military career.

Another said she waited two years to report a rape after her grades suffered and she began having nightmares. She was told she was being investigated for mental health problems and eventually was dismissed for health reasons.

Others who reported attacks ended up reprimanded for drinking or having sex in dormitories. Nothing has happened -- yet -- to the accused men.

Meanwhile, 38 women have sought help at a civilian rape counseling center 15 miles from campus, even though the academy has a 24-hour hot line and its own counseling center. The women told counselors at the off-campus center that reporting a rape to the academy's hot line would cost them their careers as fighter pilots.

Yes, there are cases where women claim to have been raped and later recant. But when this many come forward in an atmosphere where everything and everyone tells them it's a bad idea to do so, there's a serious problem.

At least the Air Force has taken the initial step: admitting there is a problem.

Air Force Secretary James Roche said earlier this month that his organization needs to fix the climate of tolerance for rape and assault.

"We have cadets who have misused power, that have done things we cannot tolerate," he said.

In addressing the problem, Air Force leadership should be sure to do so with the proper attitude.

Women at the academy want to serve their country. They've decided against traditional roles in favor of using their skills to protect America.

Meanwhile, our military men are expected to have the highest standards of behavior in the nation.

It is a sad state of affairs if women with this kind of drive and patriotism have to be protected against the men who should be serving with them side by side.