The hearing follows a series of sexual assault scandals and new Pentagon data showing a significant increase in unwanted sexual contact in the military, from groping to rape. The top uniformed officers of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard, along with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee together to demonstrate their commitment to addressing the issue. General Martin Dempsey stated that they are taking swift action to change a complacent climate. While some propose removing responsibility for prosecuting sex crimes from the victim's chain of command, many believe that maintaining the power of commanders is crucial to administering justice quickly and preserving unit cohesion. Despite criticism of the military's handling of past cases, there is a recognition that radical change is needed to address the increase in sexual misconduct cases. Senator John McCain expressed disgust over continued reports of sexual misconduct in the military, emphasizing the need for more than just talk on the issue. Senator Carl Levin, head of the Armed Services Committee, appeared understanding of military concerns about preserving the chain of command's power. Levin stated that only the chain of command has the ability to implement a zero-tolerance policy for sexual offenses. Additionally, only the chain of command is empowered to confront any issues in the command climate that promote or allow sexual assaults.