Right Steps on Sexual Assault in the Military Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Monday announced several encouraging steps to fight sexual assault in the military. The most notable is the requirement that complaints be handled by senior officers - colonels or Navy captains - instead of lower-ranking officers who are often ill equipped or reluctant to pursue assault cases. He said special units would be set up in each service branch to interview victims and collect evidence. Recruits would be briefed on sexual-assault policies within 14 days of joining the service. National Guard members and reservists who file complaints would be able to stay on active duty during investigations so their cases are not dropped. Case records will be maintained, the problem will be tracked and commanders will have to regularly assess whether their units are following the rules. It is easy to be skeptical whenever the military talks about its "zero tolerance" toward sexual crimes. The decades are papered with pledges by Pentagon leaders to end such violence, but somehow it continues. A Defense Department report released Friday showed that reported sexual assaults were up slightly in 2011, to 3,192, from 3,158 in 2010. The Pentagon believes such crimes are vastly underreported and says about 19,000 assaults are committed every year. Mr. Panetta, who has been under pressure from advocacy groups and members of Congress to address this crisis, is right to fight the problem by increasing prosecutions, not just by increasing awareness or sensitivity. There is more to do. Congress should enact these reforms into law so they are not subject to erosion in future administrations. The Pentagon needs to make sure victims know their rights, are able to demand transfers away from predators, are assured of confidential communication with their lawyers and protected from retaliation. Accusers should be able to pursue claims in federal courts if military justice fails. The military is a long way from healing itself. But Mr. Panetta has taken steps in the right direction.