US military 'failing' on sexual violence THE US military has failed to tackle sexual violence effectively and a wave of recent incidents is eroding trust throughout the ranks, US Army Chief of Staff General Ray Odierno said. In a message sent to army personnel following a series of damaging revelations about sexual assaults in the military, Odierno said the fight against sexual assault and harassment should be the institution's top priority. "The Army is failing in its efforts to combat sexual assault and sexual harassment," Odierno said. It is time we take on the fight against sexual assault and sexual harassment as our primary mission. Odierno's comments came after it emerged that a soldier who worked in a rape prevention program had been accused of forcing a subordinate into prostitution. Last week, an Air Force officer in charge of his service's sexual assault prevention office was arrested near the Pentagon for allegedly assaulting a woman. Odierno said the recent rash of incidents represented a "violation of trust." "Our Army is based on a bedrock of trust -- the trust between soldiers and leaders that we will take care of each other," he said. Recent incidents of sexual assault and sexual harassment demonstrate that we have violated that trust. In fact, these acts violate everything our Army stands for. They are contrary to our Army Values and they must not be tolerated. Odierno called on military leaders "at every level" to establish a "command climate and culture of mutual respect, trust and safety." "Our profession is built on the bedrock of trust; sexual assault and sexual harassment betray that trust," he said. Following the spate of incidents, President Barack Obama held a meeting with US Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel, the highest ranking US military officer Army General Martin Dempsey, as well as the civilian and military bosses of each branch of the US military. Sexual abuse cases in the military are on the rise, according to a Pentagon report, rising to 3,374 in 2012, a six per cent increase from the previous year.