In a setback for the U.S. military's efforts to reduce sexual assault in the military, a new Pentagon survey obtained by ABC News shows the number of sexual assaults increased in 2018 to 20,500, almost the same levels as five years ago, a result that Pentagon officials say will lead to changes in its sexual assault prevention efforts.
The latest figures are included in an anonymous Pentagon survey conducted every two years that estimates the "prevalence," or rate, of sexual assault in the military. Sexual assault is defined as rape, sexual assault, forcible sodomy, aggravated sexual contact, abusive sexual contact and attempts to commit those offenses.
(MORE: Sexual assault and harassment cases up significantly at military service academies despite prevention efforts, Pentagon survey finds)