Committing to Change: Coast Guard Vows Reforms in Wake of Mishandled Sexual Assault Reports
The US Coast Guard admits negligence in handling reports of sexual assault, promising crucial reforms to ensure the safety of its personnel
After allegations surfaced that the US Coast Guard had concealed information about sexual assaults and misconduct, an internal review team released a highly critical report on Wednesday. The report acknowledged the failures of the organization to keep its members safe and pledged to make reforms to better protect them. The review team spent 90 days speaking with hundreds of service members and reading through more than 170 written comments, stating that the workforce found the failures and lack of accountability entirely unacceptable and demanding action from their leaders.
A recent report revealed that many members of the Coast Guard are not experiencing the safe, empowering workplace they deserve, leading to a loss of trust in the organization's leadership. The revelations come after a secret investigation uncovered serious misconduct and cover-ups by high-ranking officials, sparking outrage, government investigations, and proposed legislation.
CNN's reporting on the Fouled Anchor and the revelation that Coast Guard leaders chose not to prosecute a retired officer for sexual misconduct "has caused a range of feelings from disappointment to outrage," the report stated.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan L. Noel/US Coast Guard
US Coast Guard leaders long concealed a critical report about racism, hazing and sexual misconduct
"For many victims, there is a profound loss of trust in leaders who did not effectively prevent or respond to sexual violence, in a military justice system with outdated legal definitions of rape, and in the absence of support programs for those impacted prior to 2000," the report revealed. While the report highlighted some improvements made in the last twenty years, it also recognized that these changes have not been sufficient to prevent assaults and adequately support victims.
The review did not aim to hold accountable past perpetrators or officials involved in the Fouled Anchor cover-up, as multiple government investigations launched by Congress are still ongoing.
The report looked ahead to prevent future assaults and misconduct, calling it a "road map for improving" the agency's culture. In addition to the findings, the Coast Guard unveiled a series of actions led by Commandant Linda Fagan to implement recommended changes in training, victim support services, and accountability processes for perpetrators.
Fouled Anchor discovered that despite compelling evidence of assaults dating back to the late 1980s, numerous alleged perpetrators were never subject to criminal investigations, enabling some of the accused to ascend to high-ranking positions within the Coast Guard and other military organizations.
The document recognizes the Coast Guard's shortcomings and leverages them to pave a path forward, regain trust, and establish the foundation for organizational development. It highlights that many of the actions outlined necessitate additional funding and authority for execution.
The reforms include implementing a mentorship program for victims of sexual assault, creating a "safe to report" policy to protect victims from being penalized for minor misconduct, enhancing security with more secure locks on Coast Guard Academy bedrooms, and increasing oversight of the school and its cadets. This also involves establishing a new chain of command for the academy head. Additionally, Fagan directed officials to improve monitoring of the academy's "Swab Summer" training program and to explore ways to strengthen policies for reducing pension payments for individuals found to have committed misconduct.
The report represents the Coast Guard's extensive effort to address the increasing criticism of its management of misconduct. While it was publicly released and its contents briefed to members of Congress earlier, the report was specifically aimed at the "U.S. Coast Guard workforce, past and present."
The report stated, "You have clearly expressed your desire and expectation for our Service to address this issue and bring about improvement. You want our Service to bring about substantial change. Whether you are a member with a story to share or the shipmate standing alongside them, this is our opportunity to make it right."
From Bryant University
He faced an investigation for sending inappropriate messages to a student at the Coast Guard Academy, but now he holds the position of college president. Despite the Coast Guard's emphasis on the future, members of Congress are continuing to seek answers regarding previous shortcomings.
Sen. Chris Murphy from Connecticut, where the Coast Guard Academy is located, expressed disappointment that the new report does not hold anyone accountable for past failures, especially those at the Coast Guard Academy. He and other lawmakers have been criticizing the agency for its lack of transparency regarding sexual assault and other misconduct. The report outlines a plan to improve oversight, training, and support for survivors, but Murphy emphasizes that concrete steps need to be taken, rather than just having the report on paper.
Democratic Senators Maria Cantwell and Richard Blumenthal also criticized the Coast Guard for failing to hold anyone accountable in their "accountability" review of the mishandling of sexual assault cases. Cantwell stressed the importance of an independent investigation and is awaiting the results of the ongoing probe by the Department of Homeland Securitys Inspector General.
Earlier this year, CNN reported that former Commandant Karl Schultz and Vice Commandant Charles Ray failed to follow through on plans to share the findings of Fouled Anchor with Congress and the public. Ray resigned from his position at a Coast Guard Academy leadership institute shortly after, but no other current or former Coast Guard officials have publicly faced any consequences.
"Current Coast Guard personnel are being instructed to trust their leadership, but their leaders are not holding past leaders accountable," K. Denise Rucker Krepp, a former Coast Guard officer and former chief counsel of the Maritime Administration, wrote in a recent letter to Congress. Krepp described how she attended a "community healing" event sponsored by the Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association last month.
Prior to having my first cup of coffee, I came across a story about a woman who was sexually assaulted shortly after enlisting in the military. She never disclosed the incident to her parents," she recounted. "While I was washing my hands in the restroom, another woman revealed that she had been assaulted while attending the Coast Guard Academy in the late 1990s. Yet another woman spoke up about being assaulted by three schoolmates at the academy, and as a result, has been on medication for two-thirds of her life due to the incidents that occurred nearly 40 years ago.
Next week, more survivors of sexual assault and harassment at the Coast Guard Academy are scheduled to share their stories publicly during a Congressional hearing. This hearing, which was just announced yesterday, is part of an ongoing Senate investigation initiated in response to the Fouled Anchor cover-up.
Do you have information or a story to share about the Coast Guard past or present? Email melanie.hicken@cnn.com and Blake.Ellis@cnn.com.
