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Building on investments and improvements over the past decade, the Coast Guard continues to make strides to ensure all members experience a safe workplace. Free from harassment, assault, hazing, bullying, hatred, discrimination, and retaliation. And it’s consistent with our core values.
Four past and present Coast Guard members testified before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HGSAC) on December 12, 2023. “Their brave testimony resonated across the service and echoed what was heard during recent listening sessions with members on sexual issues, assault and harassment,” said one senior military leader. said Lt. Gen. Peter Gauthier, deputy commander for operations, who is coordinating efforts to strengthen our culture. “Their candid comments and constructive suggestions add to our actions to create a better workplace for everyone. Their commitment to the Service’s core values of honor, respect, and dedication to duty. Thank you for your efforts.”
Upcoming leadership conferences will address fundamental service culture and sexual assault, harassment, and other harmful behavior to ensure all Coast Guard leaders are equipped and empowered to strengthen Coast Guard culture. We will focus on future efforts to achieve this goal.
Army Readiness Command (FORCECOM) is also establishing new training that will strengthen expectations across the workforce at more career points and become a permanent part of the leadership development process. Expanded leadership training will begin with senior leaders and then expand to more junior members. This was a significant action in the Commander’s authorized accountability and transparency review.
“At times, we have failed to connect the workplace experience to our core values. ) feel empowered to own our culture,” said Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Heath Jones. “We are invested in a future where all of our members know they are valued, included, trusted and empowered. We consistently deliver outstanding results in our statutory mission. We believe we need to treat culture like a statutory mandate.”
“The success of the Coast Guard’s mission requires earning the trust of the people we serve and the people we lead,” said Coast Guard Commander Adm. Linda Fagan. “Everyone in our service, from myself to all levels of command and oversight, is committed to fostering a culture where each member of our workforce feels valued, empowered, trusted and supported. I have to.”
Important updates on Coast Guard operations include:
First of its kind: Enterprise Victim Advocate position
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The Coast Guard has created the position of Enterprise Victim Advocate (EVA), a first in the military.
U.S. Coast Guard Colonel Laura Collins (retired) participates in her first spacewalk. In this new role, she will drive efforts to address the issue of sexual assault and harassment within the workplace and ensure services support victims of harmful behavior. She will consider the victim perspective and will be a strong link between stakeholder groups and Coast Guard leadership.
The position is the Coast Guard’s latest effort to focus on victim assistance. Click here to learn about other recent initiatives. Many of these actions stem from the Coast Guard’s decision in 2018 to identify victim recovery as a key element in addressing internal sexual assault and harassment.
Safe to report
The Coast Guard is asking victims to come forward and report incidents of sexual assault. However, in many sexual assault cases, the victim or reporting witness may have participated in some type of ancillary illegal activity, such as underage drinking, violating barracks rules, or having a prohibited relationship. Victims and witnesses may be unable to report assaults for fear of repercussions. To help victims feel safe coming forward, the Coast Guard has issued a Safe Reporting Policy that protects sexual assault victims from punishment for minor ancillary misconduct. Safe reporting policies remove barriers for victims who want to report sexual assault and provide direction to field commanders and the Office of the Chief Prosecutor on how to address collateral misconduct.
special victim lawyer
Senate testimony included a recommendation for Special Victims Counsel (SVC) to gain more experience before being assigned to the role. In response, the Coast Guard mandated that all her SVCs have at least two years of her law practice or applicable Coast Guard leadership experience.
“Every sexual assault victim deserves experienced, skilled, and compassionate representation to guide and assist them through the legal process,” said Rear Admiral Richard Batson, Coast Guard Judge Advocate General. Ta. “By raising SVC allocation standards, we will ensure our members have adequate legal advocacy when they need it most.”
Streamline records to the Department of Veterans Affairs
The Coast Guard has reduced the amount of time some members wait for disability ratings from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). To adjudicate military sexual trauma (MST) claims, the Veterans Administration uses designated teams that specialize in the unique nature of claims involving MST compared to other service-related conditions. Masu. These teams need access to the member’s personnel file, as medical records alone may not clearly reflect how the victim has been affected by her MST.
Currently, the Coast Guard allows VA to directly access iPERMS (Interactive Personal Electronic Records Management System) to retrieve the records they need. Previously, manual submission of personnel files caused significant delays. Displaced and retired members who need to file MST-related claims will be able to obtain a disability rating sooner and have continued access to support and medical services.
The Coast Guard Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) spurred this improvement. “When we recognized this disconnect, we identified solutions and advocated for rapid change,” the commander said. Amanda (Mandy) Le Monde, WLI National President; “We are grateful to have her WLI community passionate about improving the Coast Guard.”
FOIA request
At a Dec. 12 Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) hearing, witnesses testified about the challenges they faced in requesting access to documents. In line with witness comments, the Coast Guard is hiring additional personnel and improving its approach to managing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests by victims of sexual assault.
The Coast Guard is also considering legislative and policy approaches to improve access to Special Victims Counsel (SVC) and victims’ information during case adjudication, including sexual assault forensic examinations. This includes ensuring access to reports, victim statements and medical records.
investigation
The Coast Guard is working with the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General (DHS OIG), which is investigating both the initial foul anchor investigation and the Coast Guard’s handling of the final foul anchor report.
The department is also responding to multiple Congressional requests for information informing ongoing investigations and inquiries across oversight committees. The Coast Guard provided more than 36,000 pages of materials in response to more than 300 different requests for information.
Advance
The Coast Guard will work with Congress to strengthen its authority, ensure it has the tools it needs to effectively hold its members accountable, and strengthen its core values with an emphasis on physical safety at the Coast Guard Academy. ensuring a consistent culture and improving victim recovery. , and strengthen the consequences for those found to have committed sexual assault.
“While the Coast Guard continues to improve our policies and resources to prevent and respond to sexual assault, we are also taking on the larger challenge of strengthening our culture of service,” said Deputy Commander Gauthier. Ta. “To be the best Coast Guard in the world, we must all hold each other accountable to model behavior that reflects honor, respect and dedication to duty.”
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