COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Leaders at the Air Force Academy say they have even more reason to believe change must occur. A new survey of cadets shows major problems with alcohol and sexual assaults.

Eighty-six percent of the 3,554 cadets filled out the questionnaire, the results of which were released Monday.

Of those surveyed, 60 percent of the women said sexual harassment occurs in the cadet wing and 40 percent of the men agreed. About one in every six cadets, or 16 percent, said they didn't know how to report sexual assault and 25 percent of women said they feared reprisal if they were to report an incident. The women who were least likely to report an incident are sophomores -- only one in 10 said they would report be a victim of sexual assault for fear of being punished for other violations or being ostracized by their peers.

As for alcohol, about 38 percent of the cadets under the age of 21 said they've had alcohol since coming to the academy. And more than half of the seniors, 52 percent, said they drank in their dorms -- in violation of school rules.

"Obviously to affect change we will, No. 1, need to realize we have a problem. Early in this educational process we want to make sure that nobody is in denial," said Col. Debra Gray, the academy's vice commander in charge of cadet training.

Gray said the survey has commanders reviewing the entire academic process.

"We may have to look outside the box for ways to educate," she said.

In light of the findings, academy commanders also said they will bring in extra staff to patrol dorms.

Among the disturbing findings is cadets saying they are less likely to follow the honor code against lying, cheating and stealing the longer they stay at academy.

Between 80 percent and 90 percent of freshmen said if they saw someone breaking academy rules -- drinking alcohol, violating the dress code or similar infractions -- they would bring it to the cadet's attention. Among the senior class, that number dropped to 70 percent to 80 percent. Precise numbers were not provided.

Asked if they saw someone violating the honor code, about 90 percent of freshmen said they would bring it up. For seniors, it was about 80 percent.

"Data suggests cadets come in more idealistic (and) then there is some dynamic that occurs that makes them less likely to uphold standards," said Gray.

But on the positive side, 90 percent of the cadets who responded said they trust the new academy leadership to stop sexual harassment and sexual assaults.

The surveys are done periodically but are drawing more scrutiny this fall because of the academy's sexual assault scandal, which 7NEWS first uncovered in February. The survey, conducted Aug. 25, is the first overseen by the academy's new leadership. At least 142 women have come forward to say they were assaulted at the academy or by a cadet. Some said that when they reported the alleged assaults, they were punished by the school's leadership and sometimes drummed out of the academy.

The latest survey was released less than a week after Lt. Gen. John Rosa, the academy superintendent, told reporters he was concerned because another survey showed one in five male cadets didn't believe women belonged at the school.

Gray said that the results of the survey weren't surprising because much of the information revealed in the cadet survey has been validated through other surveys, including one taken by the Department of Defense Inspector General and the General Accounting Office.