Some 27 per cent of female members who responded to a major Defence Forces survey said they had been bullied or harassed over the past year.
Levels of sexual harassment reported among female staff were much lower, at 11 per cent, and were in line with a recent ESRI study on the wider workforce.
The new report has recommended the development of a number of family-friendly policies to help retain women in the Defence Forces.
These include more flexible working practices, the provision of childcare, and better promotional opportunities.
Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea and incoming Defence Forces Chief-of-Staff Maj Gen Dermot Earley both said the report's findings underlined the need not to become complacent.
However, they believed considerable progress had been made in recent years.
They pointed out that given the "robust" nature of military training, harassment complaints within the Defence Forces could be expected to be higher than in the civilian workforce.
"That [ 27 per cent] figure does stand out and it is disappointing," Mr O'Dea said. "We are not complacent and we are determined to do something about it."
However, Mr O'Dea believed the TNS mrbi report, Retention and Recruitment of Women in the Defence Forces, was "a good news story".
A 2002 report by the External Advisory Committee of the Defence Forces found 30 per cent of respondents had experienced sexual harassment, almost three times higher than the current level of 11 per cent.
Mr O'Dea noted that the 27 per cent of respondents claiming non-sexual harassment or bullying had only done so after being "cross-examined" by those conducting the research. They had been asked to "put under the microscope" events that many could not at first recall. "There is every reason to believe that that 27 per cent figures does not represent the true figure," he said.
Maj Gen Earley believed that while more progress needed to be made on sexual harassment and bullying of females, the situation had already improved greatly. "It takes 10 years to change a culture," he said.
The report was commissioned by Mr O'Dea and was one of the biggest research projects ever undertaken by the Department of Defence.
All 520 serving female personnel were surveyed, with some 36 per cent responding. Interest groups and members of the public were also consulted about future strategies to attract more female recruits.
While 27 per cent of the respondents reported bullying and harassment and 11 per cent reported sexual harassment, there were also a range of positive findings. These included:
Some 75 per cent of respondents believed the Defence Forces was a good place to work.
Some 73 per cent enjoyed their jobs.
Some 81 per cent were satisfied with job security.
Some 72 per cent were happy with pay and benefits.
Interviews with members of the public and interest groups identified areas where greater awareness of the workings of the Defence Forces might encourage more women to join.
There were doubts about career prospects and the transferability into civilian life of skills learned while serving.
Many respondents were unaware of the availability of third-level degree courses while serving in the Defence Forces. There were also widespread perceptions of poor pay.
Key recommendations: retaining and recruiting women in the Defence Forces
-Greater understanding of women's "family commitments" should be developed
-Childcare assistance should be explored
- Make available maternity versions of military uniforms
-Continue to tackle bullying and harassment
-Review promotional opportunities and explore if current five-year contract for serving personnel is too long
-Develop female role models in senior ranks and publicise women who reach higher ranks
-Increased visits to girls' schools to foster greater awareness of women in the military
-Consideration should be given to offering work placements to transition year students
-Career guidance teachers in secondary schools should be better informed of Defence Forces careers for women.
