In a doleful graduation address at West Point, Defense Secretary Hagel called the increasing reports of sexual assault a “scourge” that “could undermine our ability to effectively carry out the mission.” Stronger words could not have been chosen. A scourge is defined as “a source of widespread dreadful affliction and devastation.” What has caused such outrage in the Senate and led to the SecDef’s belief that our military is about to be devastated and incapable?

The source of the accusations is the massive annual report and poll conducted by the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office in the Pentagon. In FY12, there were 3,374 reports of sexual assault. However, in anonymous polling, eight times that number, or 26,000, said they had been “victimized by unwanted sexual contact.” In 2010, the same survey process had “derived” a figure of 19,000. Hence, this increase was leading to a scourge.

The polling indicated that 12,000 women — 6 percent of the females in the military and 14,000 men — 1 percent of the males in the military — believed they had been victimized by unwanted sexual contact. Although reports of rape and physical assault were down from the previous year, complaints about “abusive and wrongful sexual contact” had increased. More men than women complained, but there are more men in the military.

In explaining the polling, the general doing the briefing said, “All the services do some form of command climate survey. About 50,000 surveys are conducted every month. . . .Our survey told us that victims weren’t satisfied with the way they’re being treated in the unit. They perceive retaliation in the form of social retaliation, or leadership retaliation. That’s a huge barrier for reporting.” So because many will not report via a signed statement, then anonymous surveys are a more reliable means of determining the actual number of sexual-assault cases.

So what is a casual reader supposed to conclude from all this?

First, there is a huge variation in undefined terms. It’s hard to know what the language means. “Sexual assault,” “victimized by unwanted sexual contact,” and “abusive and wrongful sexual contact” can be interpreted differently by different respondents.

Second, there is absolutely no excuse or condoning of wrongful sexual contact. The sensitivity and command response from corporal to general has been elevated to the point where taking authority away from the military or insisting upon automatic punishments, as some in Congress have recommended, are the wrong steps to take. Trust in our commanders is proper and fitting.

Third, the sheer volume of anonymous military surveys — 50,000 — required by law is staggering. Fear of retaliation is undoubtedly a barrier for reporting officially. But perhaps we are also seeing an increased inclination to anonymously respond in ways that cause overreaction. For instance, 71 percent of high-school graduates responded yes, when asked in a poll, “Have you experienced physical assault?” Well, who has not had a tussle with somebody at some point in his life? How is one to interpret such a question?

Similarly, more males than females in the military reported being sexually assaulted. Since no one knew what to make of that poll response, much less what to do about it, that response has been ignored. The phrasing of poll questions often provokes and thereby disqualifies the answers. It may be that many males checked the box simply because they were fed up with surveys.

Fourth, our military reflects our society, but holds itself to higher standards. The New York Times recently reported a reputable survey claiming that 28 percent of 2013 graduating high-school students have been “victimized sexually.” By that yardstick, the military is four times better than our society and striving to improve even more.

Fifth, the secretary of defense went too far in using hyperbole like “scourge.” While he does not acknowledge it, the absolute danger to our national security is the ongoing defunding of our military. The military is being drained of funds for forces, operations, research and procurement. This is our most severe problem. The real scourge is the failure to address the indebtedness and transfer payments that we all agree are unsustainable. Instead, our leaders scapegoat the military by exaggerating combustible issues, while avoiding admittance of the peril a hollow force will bequeath to the next commander-in-chief.

— Bing West is a former assistant secretary of defense and combat grunt.