The fight to end sexual assault in the American armed forces has been called an invisible war, and it's one that both men and women in the military have had to fight.
Over 2,500 Army personnel reported being sexually assaulted in 2015, and the military chain of command has struggled to respond. This year, the Army released a new video game meant to educate command personnel about appropriate ways to address cases of sexual assault.
The Army took two years to create the Virtual SARC (sex assault response coordinator), which walks through many different scenarios and teaches players how to respond to reports of sexual harassment or assault.
"It's been a great tool," said Lt. Col. Jeffrey Bevington. "As a previous battalion commander, I would have loved having the opportunity to use this."
The goal of the game, which quizzes players on their responses to different incidents, is to engage command teams to help victims on military bases.
"It's important because it brings to reality what has to happen in command," said Lt. Col. Bevington. "You have to be there to take care of that victim, and you have to be able to pick up on those subtle sayings, comments, gestures, that you might not take as being offensive, but they paint the bigger picture of what's happening in your command."
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Ali Hoxie can be reached at ali.hoxie@kshb.com
