The U.S. Army’s 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade, responsible for training and supporting allied forces, is facing a double blow as allegations of sexual assault and harassment by a top officer, Colonel Meghann Sullivan, come to light.
The investigation into Col. Sullivan’s alleged misconduct is ongoing, according to sources close to the case, but reports suggest that she has been accused of assaulting at least two subordinate men and harassing several others, some incidents allegedly linked to alcohol abuse.
At least one of those alleged assaults involved forceful kissing and another grabbing a man below the belt without his consent.
The allegations against Col. Sullivan are significant, as she is the first woman to take command of an SFAB battalion.
The SFAB units, created between 2017 and 2020, are designed to work with established allied forces to develop U.S. partnerships with other countries.
The 5th SFAB, in particular, has been tasked with overseeing the Pacific region and partnering with countries that would be key in any potential conflict with China.
However, the SFAB’s reputation has been further tarnished by a separate investigation into its commander, Col. Jonathan Chung, who has been suspended over allegations of counterproductive leadership and abusive treatment of subordinates.
A spokesperson for the Security Force Assistance Command, Sgt. 1st Class Adrian Patoka, told Military.com in a statement, “We have no information on that matter that we can share at this time. We take any and all allegations seriously and handle them appropriately as circumstances dictate.”
According to Military.com, Chung’s investigation is ongoing, but it is expected to conclude soon.
The allegations against both Col. Sullivan and Col. Chung highlight a wider problem of sexual assault and harassment within the U.S. military. While the majority of victims are female, male victims account for 10% of reported cases.
Data from the Department of Defense estimates that around 14,000 male soldiers experience some type of unwanted sexual contact per year, though male cases of sexual assault and harassment are likely underreported due to societal stigma.
