Maj. Gen. Greg Porter, adjutant general for the state of Wyoming, told the Joint Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs Committee that the Wyoming National Guard is not tolerant of sexual assault or harassment and is working to strengthen reporting, training and victim support.

"The Wyoming National Guard doesn't have a culture where we tolerate ****** assault and ****** harassment," Porter said, framing recent steps the department has taken, including climate (DEOCS) surveys, inspector-general "sensing sessions," and three external reviews that found the department in compliance while identifying administrative improvements.

Why it matters: Committee members said this statutorily required briefing gives them a chance to ask whether the Guard is holding perpetrators accountable and supporting victims. Porter and Human Resources Officer Chris Smith said most sexual-assault allegations are referred to local law enforcement for investigation, and that delays can occur while civilian agencies complete work the military then may act on.

Committee members pressed operational questions on where service members should report, protections during deployments and whether administrative actions suffice for criminal misconduct. Porter reiterated the Guard's practice: allegations may be referred to local law enforcement, and in Title 10 (active-duty) status the militarys independent investigative processes apply and consequences can include court-martial.

Public comment: Marilyn Burden, a former member of the military department, told the committee she has been contacted about multiple alleged incidents and urged broader statutory reporting and transparency. She asked that future briefings include "sensing sessions, lawsuits against the agency's suicide attempts and completions, cases of power and abuse, including harassment, nonsexual, and cases of fraud, waste, and abuse." Burden also testified that a former junior-enlisted soldier alleges repeated rapes and that the woman's Wyoming Guard personnel and medical records are "nonexistent," limiting her ability to access VA care. "Literally all she wants is her records," Burden said.

What the committee did: The briefing was received as informational. Members discussed options for follow-up, including whether to pursue statutory changes next session; no formal action was taken during this meeting other than questions and public comment.

Context and next steps: Porter and department staff said they will continue to provide command-level reporting, refine prevention and investigation training, and funnel climate and IG data to unit commanders. Committee members suggested the possibility of legislation or directed staff follow-ups to address recordkeeping and accountability gaps raised in public testimony.