Department of War Honored Prevention Efforts

Three Army recipients received awards for reducing sexual assault reports within the military community in 2026.

Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Sex Crimes

Bold flat-color editorial illustration showing a neoclassical stone archway, representing institutional military safety policy. — The Department of War awarded three Army recipients on Tuesday for implementing digital training platforms credited with reducing sexual assault reports. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Department of War recognized three Army recipients for their work in sexual assault prevention and response. The awardees implemented new training schedules and digital platforms that contributed to a notable decline in reported incidents.

Why it matters

The recognition highlights the military's shift toward data-driven intervention strategies to address sexual assault. By identifying specific skill decay patterns, officials were able to adjust training timing and improve outcomes for service members.

Official reports of sexual assault involving Cadets fell to 12 in 2025 from 25 in 2024. The U.S. Military Academy Integrated Prevention Team currently manages resources for 4,400 Cadets, faculty, and staff.

The players

Mitchell Staelens

Master Sgt. Mitchell Staelens is an Army leader who developed a digital platform and mobile wellness app to support sexual assault response.

Yolanda Frazee

Yolanda Frazee is an Army victim advocate recognized for her work in sexual assault prevention and response.

U.S. Military Academy

The U.S. Military Academy is a federal service academy that trains and educates officers for the United States Army.

The details

Master Sgt. Mitchell Staelens earned recognition for creating a SharePoint platform and wellness app that supports 350 recruiting stations. Additionally, the U.S. Military Academy team mitigated risk by moving intervention training to September and incorporating booster sessions to combat skill decay.

2018-2025 served as the data review period for assault reporting patterns.
2025 was the work period for the award recipients.
2026 marked the year the Department of War presented the annual awards.

Legal Context

This story follows a pattern set by the Department of War Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office in its efforts to standardize reporting and intervention across military installations. The shift toward evidence-based prevention reflects broader trends in military justice reforms aimed at improving institutional accountability.

The implementation of the Fort Knox SHARP platform streamlines access to resources for personnel across 15 states. These prevention initiatives aim to create a safer environment for military staff and their surrounding communities.

The takeaway

Proactive intervention strategies that target specific timeframes of skill decay can significantly reduce incident rates. These efforts demonstrate that data-backed curriculum changes are essential for fostering safer institutional environments.