Pentagon’s Inspector General recommends military track sexual assault of military contractors

IG: Pentagon should track assault of contractors

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is setting up a system to track sexual assaults of people working as military contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Defense official Gail McGinn says in a memo to the Pentagon’s Inspector General that it expects to begin doing so this year. McGinn’s comments are included in an IG report that also recommends the Pentagon develop plans to provide help to assaulted U.S. contractors.

The IG investigation was initiated by a request from congressional members concerned about allegations such as those by a Texas woman, Jamie Leigh Jones. Jones has filed a lawsuit alleging she was raped by military contractor co-workers in Iraq in 2005.

The IG noted it found anecdotal evidence that contractors who reported being assaulted received medical and other assistance from military personnel.