Army sexual assault 'abhorrent'

The alleged sexual assault of a civilian by a 23-year-old army cadet on the grounds of the Royal Military College at Duntroon, Australia is abhorrent and a blight on the army's values and code of conduct, the college commandant says.

Brigadier David Luhrs said the man, who is a second-class cadet halfway through his training at Duntroon, could expect severe punishment by civil authorities, his personal authority as commandant and the Defence Force Disciplinary Act if the allegations were true.

"Without making any judgment in this case, I can't be any clearer when I say that the behaviour alleged to have taken place in this circumstance is completely abhorrent to me personally, and entirely at odds with the values and the standards of behaviour that I demand here at the Royal Military College, and more importantly, that the army demands of its future leaders," Brigadier Luhrs told reporters on Saturday.

A 21-year-old woman contacted police at 2am (AEST) on Thursday to report that a man known to her had entered her house and sexually assaulted her before fleeing.

Officers, assisted by Military Police, found the man at 5am within the grounds of Duntroon, and he faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Saturday charged with two counts of sexual intercourse without consent.

The cadet, whose name has been suppressed, was granted bail under conditions that include not approaching the alleged victim and returning to court in three weeks.

The man said nothing during the hearing, at which members of the military college were present.

Brigadier Luhrs said the alleged incident was at odds with the army's values of respect, honesty, compassion and trust.

"Behaviour such as what's been alleged in this circumstance falls well outside of that frame, and because it falls well outside that frame, I have a zero tolerance for it," he said.

Brigadier Luhrs said the Australian Federal Police were leading the case and that his focus was on supporting all parties involved in the alleged incident.

-AAP