During the trial, Cadet Whisenhunt testified that the encounter began with a “series of escalating and consensual touchings” with the woman, who was identified only by her initials, the appeals panel wrote in Monday’s ruling.

The cadets’ sleeping bags were next to each other in an open site and “other squad members were within a few feet of them,” according to the ruling. It said Cadet Whisenhunt testified “that both parties tried to avoid detection and even stopped and held their breaths after hearing a nearby noise.”

By contrast, the woman said that she was inside her sleeping bag so it completely covered her head and that she woke up to being assaulted. She said she had “remained frozen in the fetal position during the entire assault,” the ruling said.

The three judges on the United States Army Court of Criminal Appeals — two women and one man, according to Mr. Cassara — wrote that it was unlikely the woman would have remained quiet during the sexual encounter.

It was difficult to conclude that the victim “would not make any reflexive noise or movements upon being awakened, which would have alerted multiple others to his criminal activity,” the decision said. It said there was no evidence Cadet Whisenhunt threatened the victim or “took any steps, such as covering her mouth, to prevent an outcry.”