President Barack Obama has no problem forcing changes at the Pentagon.

In five years, he’s drawn down the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, repealed “don’t ask, don’t tell” and given a green light to allow women to fight alongside men in combat.

But when it comes to the next big battle at the Defense Department — over sexual assault in the ranks — don’t expect Obama to lead the charge.

He hasn’t formally met with female Democrats who’ve made the issue a priority in Congress, despite repeated requests from one of them. He hasn’t endorsed any of their proposals. And his top aides have made no commitment to lawmakers and victims groups beyond pressuring military brass behind the scenes.

Obama could argue he’s still done more to stamp out sexual assault in the military than any other president, even raising the issue in front of military audiences.

“No military unit can succeed without discipline, without trust and without cohesion,” Obama told Marines at Camp Pendleton on Wednesday. “And that’s why we’re going to work together, all of us, to stop these crimes of sexual assault and uphold the honor and the integrity that defines the finest military on Earth. And that message is coming all the way from the top.”

But there’s little reason to think Obama will go beyond generic calls for change to take a clear stand on what he believes a serious overhaul should look like, even as the Senate debates competing proposals to tackle the very issue.

Members of his party aren’t expecting him to dive in since it would almost certainly cost Obama with military brass who have resisted significant changes for 25 years.

And Obama could even end up angering some Democrats since members of the party are divided on whether to remove prosecution of sexual assault cases from the chain of command or rely on the military hierarchy to enforce new policies.

“I’ve never counted on the administration. I just think it’s something we’re working here,” said Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), who is partnering with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) on legislation to remove prosecution of sexual assault cases from the military’s chain of command...

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