In military, awareness of sexual harassment has increased in recent years.(Originated from Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph)

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. _ It is Army Master Sgt. Richard Cox's job to train troops to steer clear of sexual harassment.

But in the wake of a sex scandal that has rocked Army bases in Maryland and Missouri, he's worried what people will think when they see his uniform.

``What do you think the public will see?'' said Cox, a human relations instructor with 23 years of service. ``They'll say it's one of those sex scandal Army guys.''

The public has seen plenty lately. The Navy is still reeling from the Tailhook scandal, the Air Force Academy is fighting a lawsuit by an angry female former cadet, and recent reports of rape or harassment of female recruits at two Army training camps have prompted the Pentagon to put every military base in the country under the microscope. Just by reading the newspaper, one might get the impression that the military is a hotbed of sexual harassment.

But is that an accurate view?

Not entirely. The military is unlike the rest of society in ways that make harassment a more visible problem within its ranks.

Certainly, the armed forces have no monopoly on sexual harassment. Chevron Corp. recently agreed to pay $2.2 million to settle harassment allegations. Clarence Thomas' 1991 confirmation to the Supreme Court revolved…