A special Air Force investigation team from Washington will arrive at the Air Force Academy this week to look into sexual assaults at the school. This comes after a 7NEWS investigation found that some women who reported rapes were subsequently punished by the administration.

Video

AFA Superintendent Reacts To 7NEWS Investigation Into Alleged Rapes Watch Marie's Story Part 1Part 2 Part 1Part 2Part 3Part 4

The Air Force is scrambling, 7NEWS Investigator John Ferrugia reported. Officials have known for years they have had a problem with sex assault and sexual harrassment. Government Accounting Office reports have confirmed it.

Yet women who reported their rapes were often ostracized and many other say they didn't report out of fear of reprisal. Now the academy superintendent claims he has gotten the message.

They were all women with a dream to be an Air Force officer.

"The whole reason I did report it was because I didn't feel I was a fault," former Air Force cadet Marie said.

But they say their dream ended when they were sexually assaulted by fellow cadets.

"If you report, you are crazy because nobody is going to believe you," former Air Force cadet Ruth said.

And they claim they were abandoned by the academy.

"You start questioning who am I going to turn to? Who here is actually telling me the truth?" former Air Force cadet Liz said.

Most continue to suffer.

"Rape is murder of the soul, you know, it really is," Liz said.

And even for those who stay, the message is clear.

"The message is rape is acceptable and don't say anything about it," said Ann, a current cadet.

"It's an issue that many people are uncomfortable talking about much less addressing from a professional standpoint," said Gen. John Dallager, superintendent of the Air Force Academy. "We are not going to sweep it under the carpet."

Since the Air Force became aware of our 7NEWS investigation, Dallager has been meeting with groups of cadets, including victims of sexual assault.

And he has met more than once with the secretary of the Air Force and other high officials to figure out how to address what has become a major political and operational problem.

Dallager: They will be sending a team that will be arriving here later this week to take a look at -- a soup to nuts approach -- education, training, process ...
Ferrugia: Dealing with sexual assault?
Dallager: Dealing with sexual assault.

What is clear is that under his command, there has been little effort to assess the overall problem of sexual assault. In fact, the administration doesn't even know the number of women cadets who have reported sexual assault to the academy's medical team.

"That is an area that needs to be improved. So that is one of the area we'll be looking at and tighten up because it needs to be," Dallager said.

In fact, the general had the opportunity to find out the scope of the problem, putting out a sexual assault survey in mid-January.

Ferrugia:On the survey is there a question about 'Have you ever been sexually assaulted?'
Dallager: No. That was not one of the questions, and I'll be very candid and tell you that probably should have been a question.

While the administration is aware of dozens of sexual assaults, only 20 cases were officially reported for investigation in the past seven years.

Ferrugia: How many cadets at this institution have been court-martialed for sexually assaulting another cadet?
Dallager: Cadet assaulting cadet? None that I am aware of have been successfully court-martialed.
Ferrugia: Not one?
Dallager: Not one.

So does the superintendent believe the women who report sexual assault?

"Yes. We have no reason not to believe them," Dallager said.

Ferrugia: Is the program fair to women?
Dallager: That's exactly what we have to look at. And I would submit to you, based on the feedback we're getting, that the expectations and even the intent of the effort, the realities are falling short. So we need to take that on.
Ferrugia: Does that mean changing the culture here?
Dallager: Oh yes, yeah. I mean to me, culture, climate, atmosphere, education, training, perceptions, feedback -- how the system works. That's a tough challenge but one we addressed and we are going to attempt to do better at it.

While Dallager is the boss, he relies on the judgment of his subordinates to bring issues and problems with the program to him. Clearly they haven't and the academy is now paying the price. To his credit, Dallager has now taken charge of the issue.

But the question is, will he make the changes necessary?

A lot of women in the Air Force Academy, their parents, and members of Congress are watching closely.

If you have been sexually assaulted at the academy, or know someone who has, even if it was several years ago, call 7NEWS Investigates at (303)-832-TIPS or e-mail them at 7newsinvestigates@thedenverchannel.com.

Additional Info:

Contact 7NEWS Investigates About This Story
Do You Have A News Tip? Tell Us
Other 7NEWS Investigations