DoD Information Collection Notice Comment Period
Summary
The Department of Defense has submitted a 30-day information collection notice to the Office of Management and Budget for clearance. The notice concerns the Sexual Violence Support and Experiences Study (SVSES), an extension of an existing information collection. The comment period for this notice ends on March 27, 2026.
What changed
The Department of Defense (DoD) has issued a 30-day information collection notice regarding the Sexual Violence Support and Experiences Study (SVSES), OMB Control Number 0704-0647. This is an extension of an existing information collection, with an estimated 300 respondents providing 1,200 responses annually, each taking approximately 15 minutes. The study aims to collect data from Service members who have experienced sexual assault to inform improvements in sexual assault response and accountability systems within the military.
Interested parties must submit comments by March 27, 2026. The information collected will be used by DoD policy offices and Military Departments to enhance personnel policies, programs, practices, and training related to sexual assault response. The study is open to all eligible Service members, and the Office of People Analytics will administer it online. This notice serves as an opportunity for public comment on the proposed information collection before it is finalized.
What to do next
- Review the proposed information collection for the Sexual Violence Support and Experiences Study.
- Submit comments to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain by March 27, 2026, if applicable.
Source document (simplified)
Content
ACTION:
30-Day information collection notice.
SUMMARY:
The Department of War has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for
collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act.
DATES:
Consideration will be given to all comments received by March 27, 2026.
ADDRESSES:
Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication
of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting
“Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Reginald Lucas, (571) 372-7574, whs.mc-alex.esd.mbx.dd-dod-information-collections@mail.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
In March 2019, Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan requested the DoD form a team of experts to “take a fresh look”
at issues involving the sexual assault investigative and accountability process. The DoD established the Sexual Assault Accountability
and Investigation Task Force (SAAITF) to identify, evaluate, and make recommendations to improve the investigation and accountability
process. As part of this effort, the 2019 SAAITF report called for a “standardized survey of victim experiences, attitudes,
and satisfaction.” The Sexual Violence Support and Experiences Study (SVSES) meets this requirement and will allow DoW's Sexual
Assault Prevention and Response Office, other Department policy offices, and the military Services to use the input of military
members to inform improvements to the response system and to address challenges military members face during the military
investigation and accountability process.
Title; Associated Form; and OMB Number: Sexual Violence Support and Experience Study; OMB Control Number 0704-0647.
Type of Request: Extension.
Number of Respondents: 300.
Responses per Respondent: 4.
Annual Responses: 1,200.
Average Burden per Response: 15 minutes.
Annual Burden Hours: 300.
Needs and Uses: Information from the SVSES will be used by the OUSD(P&R) policy offices, and the Military Departments to inform improvements
to personnel policies, programs, practices, and training related to sexual assault response and accountability systems in
the military. It will provide the policy offices of the OUSD(P&R) with current data on (1) Service member satisfaction with
sexual assault support resources; (2) the impact that the military support and military justice processes have on Service
members who indicate experiencing sexual assault during military service (e.g., their psychological health and well-being); and (3) aspects of the military support and military justice process that relate
to retention intention, career progression, and separation from military service.
Any Service member (Active, Reserve, or National Guard) who has experienced unwanted sexual contact or sexual assault since
joining the military will be eligible to participate in the study. Recruitment for the SVSES will include proactive outreach
to Service members who previously filed an unrestricted report for sexual assault and Service members who requested to learn
more about the study. The Office of People Analytics (OPA) will administer the SVSES via the web. The survey will be administered
via proprietary software developed by OPA's operations contractor. To reduce respondent burden, these online surveys will
use “smart skip” technology to ensure respondents only answer questions that are applicable to them.
Information from the SVSES will be used by OUSD(P&R) policy offices, and the Military Departments for program evaluation and
to inform improvements to personnel policies, programs, practices, and training related to sexual assault in the military.
The study will not produce generalizable statistics or findings; rather, it will inform policy and program offices within
the Department about Service member satisfaction with sexual assault response resources and processes and the sexual assault
accountability system. OPA will provide interim reports regarding the findings of the study to OUSD(P&R) policy offices on
an annual basis and a full report on a biennial basis. Data from the SVSES will also be used in future analyses.
Affected Public: Individuals and households.
Frequency: Quarterly.
DoD Clearance Officer: Mr. Reginald Lucas.
Dated: February 23, 2026. Stephanie J. Bost, Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense. [FR Doc. 2026-03731 Filed 2-24-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6001-FR-P
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