Comments on: Navy Officer Actually Fired For Letting Anti-Gay Hazing Go On For Eight Months

By: Shep

Shep — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 22:01:58 +0000

I am just a guest here, I am pointing my sister to this site for a sense of community but I want to respond to this as a former sailor. I know for those not in service, that 8 months may seem long but you have to realize, a senior enlisted of that rank are confirmed by congress. The Navy aggressively went after this Master Chief. It takes an act of congress to get rid a person at this rank. They didn’t reduce him in rank, that didn’t shuffle him to another post, they kicked him out with loss of retirement and benefits. That takes a member of congress to sign off on or the SECNAV. That is what caused the 8 month time frame. This requires a trial held by JAG, a ruling to be made and then paperwork to be done.

The Navy is not perfect, it has a ways to go but they have been on the forefront in leading the charge for equal rights for all. We all want justice and equality now, but I hope in the push to right the ship that everyone understands the process and that it does work. Thank you for letting me put in my two cents.

By: CBL

CBL — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 20:36:32 +0000

“Yes, I’m sure 8 months seems like forever for someone who’s not part of such a huge organization, but in reality, for it to only take 8 months for the upper chain of command to take such drastic action is really impressive.”

A good thing sure, impressive….no.

By: CBL

CBL — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 20:31:20 +0000

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/28/lackland-air-force-base-sex-scandal_n_1634921.html

Air Force sex scandal involving at least 31 female victims.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 02:56:47 +0000

Check out this report from CNN online in April. It is revolting.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/14/health/military-sexual-assaults-personality-disorder/index.html

By: Jessica

Jessica — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 02:55:12 +0000

There was an article on CNN online correlating the number of women who had reported sexual assaults in the military and the number of women who were then discharged due to being classified as mentally unstable. Sickening. Here it is

http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/14/health/military-sexual-assaults-personality-disorder/index.html

By: Anon

Anon — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 23:09:43 +0000

Yes, I’m sure 8 months seems like forever for someone who’s not part of such a huge organization, but in reality, for it to only take 8 months for the upper chain of command to take such drastic action is really impressive. Yes, betsey this is fantastic progress because the military is one of the largest employers in the country, one deeply steeped in tradition and that places a ton of importance on a hierarchy, and for good reason. So for an organization such as this to do something so forceful about this issue is nothing short of awesome. It also reflects years of hard work within the ranks to make a change that is so needed. 15, 20 years ago there were no Equal Opportunity Advisers (EOAs) or Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) representatives. Now every Naval command and branch in the world has these programs or others like it. If you were to take a company of similar size and influence and look at what they have done to prevent sexual harassment and assault in their ranks, I doubt you would find such reaching programs. We’re briefed multiple times a year on EO and SAPR and diversity. Yes, it’s very much needed, and yes, there is ground to be made up, but please do not claim that not enough is being done or not enough attention is being paid to the problems that confront our sailors. The channels are there now, and our sailors are being heard. The change happening fast. The Navy is a professional, disciplined organization, and we are being trained that way. Not a single incident is okay, but they happen, and when they do, they are being dealt with. So until you can show that you have some understanding of how the military works and what its like to be a servicemember, your critiques just seem small minded and prejudicial. You are welcome to disagree with the military, that’s your right. But at least make your comments somewhat informed or don’t make them at all.

By the way, a Master Chief Petty Officer is not an officer. They are the most senior enlisted and while they don’t have the rank of an officer and that ultimate decision authority, they definitely have more clout. It’s a huge deal for a Master Chief to get relieved like this.

By: eLJay

eLJay — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 07:25:55 +0000

Yes, baby steps indeed. This should serve as an eye-opener so that other victims (straight or gay:guy or girl) won’t have to wait 8 months before their concerns are addressed.

By: kd15

kd15 — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 02:47:31 +0000

I’m impressed the Navy has done this much. There’s definitely room for improvement but it’s a start and hopefully the Navy will take future reports of anti-gay hazing seriously.

By: betsey

betsey — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 02:05:46 +0000

wow. i think this is fantastic progress.

By: Meghan

Meghan — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 23:12:25 +0000

While it’s still awful that this sailor had to suffer eight months of harassment, the fact that the Navy actually did something about it (eventually) shows a great deal of progress and growth on their part. Baby steps, I guess.

By: Paper0Flowers

Paper0Flowers — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 21:58:41 +0000

While this is good news, a cynical part of me wonders if this was followed through because the victim was male being harassed by other males… Would the same have happened if the victim was a queer female instead?

By: CBL

CBL — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 19:42:27 +0000

This is progress, but more needs to be done. Sexual assaults especially are too common in the military, and most of the perps get away with it. I hope more women and men call the police, and not the MP’s as back up in case the military does what it always does and brush it under the rug.