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WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says sexual assaults are a threat to both women and men in uniform. And he says the Pentagon must do more to fight a culture that discourages victims from reporting assault.

Hagel says reports of sexual assaults by military members rose 50 percent last year, showing that more victims have confidence in the system.

The Pentagon is releasing its annual report on sexual assaults.

Hagel says he’s ordering six new initiatives. They include efforts to get more male victims to come forward and a review of alcohol sales and policies.

He says the review must address the risks of alcohol being used as a weapon by predators.

There were more than 5,000 reports of sexual abuse filed in 2013, compared with more than 3,000 in 2012.

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