Bill Overview
Title: Protecting our Servicemembers through Proven Methods Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to include new elements in its annual primary prevention research agenda, for example, a focus on whether and to what extent sub-populations of the military community may be targeted for interpersonal violence more than others. The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to submit a report to Congress (1) comparing the DOD's sexual harassment and prevention training with similar programs at other federal departments and agencies; and (2) that includes relevant data collected by colleges, universities, and other relevant outside entities on hazing, bullying, and interpersonal and self-directed violence.
Sponsors: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Target Audience
Population: People serving in military forces globally
Estimated Size: 2100000
- The bill involves research on interpersonal violence within the military, potentially benefiting all active-duty servicemembers.
- The findings from the research may directly influence policies or interventions designed to protect servicemembers from violence.
- Sexual harassment and prevention training comparisons suggest focus on educational and preventive aspects affecting servicemembers.
- Military community includes active-duty personnel, reservists, and possibly their families.
- The focus on sub-populations may indirectly affect groups more vulnerable to interpersonal violence such as women or minority servicemembers.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily aims to improve preventative measures against interpersonal violence within the military, specifically focusing on possible disparities among sub-populations.
- With a relatively focused budget of $15,000,000 in year 1, individual impact may vary but overall aims for systematic benefits.
- Long-term, this policy aims to enhance safety and wellbeing for servicemembers, potentially reducing instances of violence.
- The policy could lead to better tailored training programs advocating for cultural understanding and reduction of harassment, having more noticeable effects on those directly engaged with military diversity issues.
- Servicemembers are numerous and diverse, including active-duty, reservists, and subsets such as minority groups, indicating wide-reaching albeit varied impact levels.
Simulated Interviews
Active-Duty Military Officer (San Diego, CA)
Age: 24 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this focus on sub-populations is essential.
- There's often a lack of understanding about what different groups face.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Enlisted Army Personnel (Fort Bragg, NC)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 17/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this leads to better training and understanding for everyone.
- My wife worries about the culture in the military.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Reservist (Anchorage, AK)
Age: 41 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Reservists sometimes feel overlooked, so this might help.
- I’m interested in the mentorship opportunities that could arise.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Military Healthcare Professional (Norfolk, VA)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could help identify more risks that we weren't even aware of.
- Better data means better ways to help.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Pentagon Administrative Staff (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 30 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The emphasis on diverse perspectives should lead to better military-wide policies.
- I'm glad to see analysis rather than blanket policies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Retired Military, Consultant (Colorado Springs, CO)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies like this were long overdue.
- It's crucial to adapt military culture to modern values.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Military Family Support Coordinator (Hawaii)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Addressing interpersonal violence is crucial for family wellbeing.
- I see the potential for impacts on family support systems.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Defense Contractor (Texas)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Better training and identification tools will benefit everyone on base.
- I'm interested in how this will affect contractors as well.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Military Veterans Affairs Advocate (New York)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This will hopefully reduce violence during service.
- Could provide more data to support veterans in civilian life.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Military Training Instructor (Chicago, IL)
Age: 26 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 12.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Happy to see a focus on sub-populations that could use more attention.
- I think this will help address some cultural gaps in training.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $15000000 (Low: $12000000, High: $18000000)
Year 2: $12000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $14000000)
Year 3: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Year 5: $8000000 (Low: $6000000, High: $10000000)
Year 10: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 100: $1000000 (Low: $800000, High: $1200000)
Key Considerations
- Initial implementation costs will be higher, reflecting the development of new research and reporting systems.
- The impact on violence incident rates and associated costs is uncertain but potentially significant.
- Actual long-term savings and GDP impacts are uncertain and dependent on the effectiveness of policy implementation.