Sexual Assault Reporting

[BMC Seth Tomas]

Sat through training on the new Instruction today that was dated in late 2007. There seems to be some mass confusion to the new restricted vs. unrestricted reporting requirements. What do ya'll think? Will it work? There seems to be too many circumstances where a member wants it to be a restricted report and ends up telling the wrong person, etc and it turns out to be unrestricted.

We held the training for all Chiefs and Supervisors....seems to be the training needs to be for ALL hands. More than likely, it will be the E-2's through E-6's who are the ones doing the reporting. If they are not fully aware of this new policy, then what good is it? I understand that the Chiefs and Supervisors can conduct the training on it, but it seems as though it would be much easier and make more sense to the members if Work-Life conducted the training for everyone.

What do ya'll think? Have you read the instruction? Sat thru training?

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

I'm heading down to NOLA sunday for training. I've read the instruction. I don't know if it's going to make more people feel comfortable coming forward. Like you said, everyone is going to have to be trained and fully understand the policy. I'll let you know what is passed while I'm down there. The Work-Life people make this part of the required training for Command Cadre. Those people should be taking it back to their units. I wish there were a way to ensure the victims felt protected enough to come forward to report these things.
It was like when they changed the policy so people reporting sexual assaults wouldn't get charged with an AI if they were drinking underage. Stopping the sexual assaults is more important than addressing one underage AI, but was that the real reason people weren't reporting the assault?

[BMC Seth Tomas]

I fully understand it being required trng for the Command Cadre, but the entire work force NEEDS to be trained on this. It is a useless program if nobody other than the command knows how to use it...sure, the Commands can turn around and train the crew on it, but the confusion and "what if's" that were played out with us today would only be worse with the crew when we try to explain it to them!

Either way....I'm calling Work Life!

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

Seth, I think this could all be resolved if we made people aware of the resources available to them. Getting the Work Life Staff introdcuced to your crew is always helpful. When I was down at San Juan everyone knew who the work life rep was and people went to her for all kinds of things. She sometimes had to redirect them to the proper people, but she always ensured their story was heard, addressed, and resolved to their satisfaction. The same thing was happening when we had D7 East down there. Everyone knew they had an ear that would listen.
People need to know that they should come forward and report incidents. They need to know who they could call before something happens. They need to know who they can trust to look out for their best interests.

Commands need to stay on top of Policy and ensure the people in their charge are aware of it. If the Command Cadre attend the training, and don't walk away with a full understanding of the policy, they didn't ask enough questions. If they can't relay that training to their crew, they need to bring someone in who can.

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

Seth, the Policy isn't as difficult as it sounds, or as confusing as people are making it out to be.......

...."the ultimate purpose of this program is to build a culture of prevention, sensitive response and accountability......"

The new change provides Restricted Reporting procedures to members in an active duty status which...." allows a sexual assault victim to confidentially disclose the details of his or her assault to specific categories of individuals and recieve medical treatment and counseling without triggering the official Coast Guard investigative process and notification of the victim's command."........
The specific categories of individuals are:
Employee Assistance Program Coordinator (EAPC),
Victim Support Person (VSP),
DOD or Coast Guard Healthcare Provider (HCP).....

cadets and OCS candidates have a couple of other options, but how many of us will be giving them the training?

Members assigned to an afloat unit have some other criteria, but the easiest questions could be answered by reading the policy prior to making the report, or contacting one of the three previously listed specific category individuals.

Bottom line, if someone wants to get all of the assistance that they are entitled to, without having to go through an investigation, this option is available to them. They can contact one of these professionals and get the help they need. Any evidence gathered will be held for 12 months in case they decide to elect to pursue an unrestricted reporting. Again the Coast Guard provides protection, ensures they are treated with dignity and respect, and provided with on going support.