( CNN ) -- A major general who formerly headed U.S. Army operations in Japan will be forced to retire and do so at a lower rank after the military concluded that he failed to `` properly address '' sexual assault allegations in his command , the Army said on Wednesday . Army Secretary John McHugh has directed that Maj. Gen. Michael T. Harrison `` be retired '' as a brigadier general , according to a statement . The Army said federal law requires that officers retire `` at the highest grade '' at which they served satisfactorily and McHugh determined that in Harrison 's case , it was one step below his current rank , the statement said . Reports of military sex assault up sharply . An Army investigation found that Harrison mishandled sex assault allegations reported to the command , Lt. Col. Alayne Conway said . No other details were provided . Harrison was suspended from his post as head of U.S. forces in Japan last year amid the investigation . The military has struggled with the issue of sexual misconduct reports within its ranks . Survivors of military sex assaults frustrated with legislation . Under current guidelines , military commanders have the authority to decide whether their subordinates should face prosecution when such allegations emerge . A debate in Congress over whether to remove that decision-making process from the command structure was the subject of political infighting earlier this year . Harrison joined the Army in 1980 served in numerous capacities around the world . He is due to retire in October . Report : More than 1,300 military sexual harassment claims last year .
Army Maj . General Michael Harrison is a former commander of US forces in Japan . He was disciplined over his handling of sex assault reports in his command . The Army has reported an increase in the number of sex assault reports within its ranks . He has been retired from the Army at a lower rank , the Army said .