Military's top brass prep measures to combat sexual assault

(CBS News) The Pentagon is getting ready to release new rules for combating sexual assault in the military.

Under pressure from Congress, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel met with the nation's top commanders on Thursday to talk about the new measures, which could be implemented early next week.

This is the most concrete response seen so far from the Pentagon to address this issue, and is timed as more wide-ranging reforms that top military brass oppose are gaining steam in Congress.

According to a memo obtained by CBS News, Hagel's plans would include routine, independent reviews of sexual assault investigations, notification of top military leaders immediately after cases are reported, and prohibitions on inappropriate relations between trainers and trainees.

Speaking Wednesday to troops at a Marine base in California, President Obama said combating sexual assault in the military is a top priority. "We are going to work together - all of us," he said, "to stop these crimes of sexual assault and uphold the honor and integrity that defines the finest military on Earth."

The Pentagon has been under heavy scrutiny -- and criticism -- in Congress after several high-profile cases of sexual misconduct.

An Air Force officer who led a sexual assault prevention unit was charged in May after groping a woman in a Virginia parking lot. Also, last year at the U.S. Naval Academy, three midshipmen have been charged with sexually assaulting a female midshipman.

Advocates say part of the problem is that victims are afraid of retaliation from within their command. Anu Bhagwati, of the human rights organization Service Women's Action Network, said, "Victims will only feel safe when commanders are taken out of the process and professional attorneys and judges take over the process."

On Capitol Hill, lawmakers, such as Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., are promoting legislation that would take the decisions about prosecuting sexual misconduct out of the hands of military commanders.

At a hearing earlier this summer with top military brass, Gillibrand argued they were out of touch. "Not every single commander believes what a sexual assault is," she said. "Not every single commander can distinguish between a slap on the ass and a rape."

But the commanders said the best way to combat the problem was from within military ranks. Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has said, "Our goal should be to hold our commanders more accountable - not render them less able to help us correct the crisis."

CBS News' Jan Crawford added on "CBS This Morning," "And the Pentagon's proposals keep those decisions within the military's discretion -- so it's not at all clear these efforts to show they're getting out front on this will satisfy Congress."

Watch Jan Crawford's full report above.