This week in the military, a survey shows last year sexual assault targeting female service members reached its highest levels since 2006; the Department of Veterans Affairs is encouraging veterans to apply for benefits and compensation related to sicknesses that were incurred by toxic burn pit exposure; Army leaders are incentivizing soldiers to graduate Ranger school, volunteer or score high physical fitness scores in exchange for more time off work; and families sickened by a fuel spill near Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam last year are suing the Navy and alleging the service mishandled the prevention and aftermath of the leak at Red Hill.
![Josh Baker, University of Arizona Wildcats football team starting center, participates in a community day at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Aug. 29, 2022. (Staff Sgt. Alex Miller/U.S. Air Force) Community day at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona.](https://images01.military.com/sites/default/files/styles/full/public/2022-09/mil-community-day-davis-monthan-1800.jpg?itok=01iOBbb0)
Josh Baker, University of Arizona Wildcats football team starting center, participates in a community day at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. (Staff Sgt. Alex Miller/U.S. Air Force)
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![Soldiers conduct detonation cord training in Zagan, Poland, Aug. 30, 2022. (Capt. Paris Scroggins/U.S. Army) Soldiers conduct detonation cord training in Zagan, Poland.](https://images02.military.com/sites/default/files/styles/full/public/2022-09/mil-detonation-cord-training-poland-1800.jpg?itok=ss1QaAUp)
Soldiers conduct detonation cord training. (Capt. Paris Scroggins/U.S. Army)
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![An Air Force ophthalmologist performs eye surgery on a patient at Unidad Nacional de Oftalmología, Guatemala, Sept. 1, 2022. (Staff Sgt. Dustin Biven/U.S. Army) An Air Force ophthalmologist performs eye surgery.](https://images05.military.com/sites/default/files/styles/full/public/2022-09/mil-air-force-ophthalmologist-eye-surgery-1800.jpg?itok=a8QxNWDQ)
An Air Force ophthalmologist performs eye surgery on a patient at Unidad Nacional de Oftalmología, Guatemala. (Staff Sgt. Dustin Biven / U.S. Army)
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![Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin pays respects at Arlington National Cemetery, Aug. 31, 2022. (U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jack Sanders/Department of Defense) Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin pays respects at Arlington National Cemetery.](https://images02.military.com/sites/default/files/styles/full/public/2022-09/mil-lloyd-austin-arlington-1800.jpg?itok=vD1KthyL)
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin pays respects at Arlington National Cemetery. (U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jack Sanders/Department of Defense)
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![A sailor simulates handcuffing a suspect after being sprayed by pepper spray, aboard the USS Arlington, Aug. 28, 2022. (Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John Bellino/U.S. Navy) A sailor simulates handcuffing a suspect after being sprayed by pepper spray.](https://images02.military.com/sites/default/files/styles/full/public/2022-09/mil-security-reaction-force-training-sailor-1800.jpg?itok=ekmr14Fl)
A sailor simulates handcuffing a suspect after being sprayed by pepper spray. (Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John Bellino/U.S. Navy)
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![An F-16 receives fuel from a KC-10 over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Aug. 31, 2022. (Staff Sgt. Shannon Bowman/U.S. Air Force) An F-16 receives fuel from a KC-10.](https://images02.military.com/sites/default/files/styles/full/public/2022-09/mil-F16-refuels-from-KC10-1800.jpg?itok=_B9sTxSU)
An F-16 receives fuel from a KC-10 over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. (Staff Sgt. Shannon Bowman/U.S. Air Force)
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— Drew F. Lawrence can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @df_lawrence.
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