sexual harassment & fraternization

United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps

Region 7-1 – Recruit Training

Sexual Harassment & Fraternization



Introduction

• The Sea Cadets must be composed of an integrated group of young men and women who work together to accomplish their mission.

• There is no place in your professional or personal lifestyle for sexual harassment.

• The key to preventing sexual harassment is education. We need to learn to recognize, resolve, and eliminate sexual harassment.



Class Objectives

1. Identify/define sexual harassment and related terms.

2. Classify some behaviors into the zones of sexual harassment.

3. Understand the USNSCC and the Navy’s policies on sexual harassment.

4. Explain how sexual harassment affects team building and team work.

5. Define and understand Fraternization in a Sea Cadet environment.

6. Explain the Sea Cadet’s grievance procedures.



Sexual Harassment Terms

• Sexual Harassment

• Sexual Discrimination

• Sexual Politics

• Reasonable Person Standard

• Work Environment

• Reprisal

The first step to recognizing, resolving, and eliminating sexual harassment is to know what sexual harassment is!



Sexual Harassment Defined

Sexual Harassment is a form of

sexual discrimination that must

meet three criteria. The

behavior must:– Be unwelcome

– Be sexual in nature

– Occur in, or have some impact on, the NSCC environment

Sexual harassment can be verbal,

physical, or visual in nature.



Sexual Discrimination Defined

Sexual discrimination is a behavior that denies equal treatment because of a person’s gender.



Sexual Politics Defined

Sexual politics is using one’s sex or

sexuality to obtain special rewards or

favors. An example would be dating

a senior cadet in order to be excused

from watchstanding or KP duties.



Reasonable Person Standard

A Reasonable Person Standard (RPS) is a test used to determine if a behavior is sexual harassment.



Work Environment

The work environment is the place where drill, or other Sea Cadet activities are conducted.



Reprisal Defined

A reprisal is performing or threatening unfavorable actions, or withholding or threatening to withhold favorable actions, in response to a report of sexual harassment.



Zones of Sexual Harassment

• Zones of sexual harassment are based on the “reasonable person standard.”

• These zones are used to classify behavior in relation to sexual harassment.

• The zones can be thought of as a traffic light: green, yellow, and red.



Green Zone

• Green zone behavior is not sexual harassment. The following are examples of green zone behavior:– Performance counseling.

– Touching that could not be perceived in a sexual way.

– Counseling on military appearance.

– Showing concern, encouragement, giving a polite compliment, having a friendly conversation.



Green Zone

• Flirting, joking, telling someone they look nice, or asking someone out are not sexually harassing unless these behaviors are used to offend, isolate, exclude, demean, or intimidate.

• Treating people differently on the basis on gender is not sexual harassment. An action or organizational practice that subjugates people on the basis of their sex, is sexual discrimination, not sexual harassment.



Yellow Zone

• Yellow zone behavior could be considered sexual harassment. The following are examples of yellow zone behavior:– Violating personal “space” or

initiating suggestive touching.

– Whistling.

– Making lewd or sexually suggestive comments.



Yellow Zone

• Asking questions about personal life.

• Posting posters/calendars, making jokes, using foul language that is sexual in nature.

• Leering, staring.

• Making repeated requests for dates, writing unwanted letters or poems.

• Making personal physical adjustments that may be interpreted as inappropriate sexual gestures.



Red Zone

• Red zone behavior is always considered sexual harassment. The following are examples of red zone behavior:– Giving or getting rewards in return

for sexual favors.

– Making threats if sexual favors are not provided.

– Using status to request dates.



Red Zone

• Showing sexually explicit pictures or remarks, writing obscene letters or comments.

• The most severe form of sexual harassment contstitues criminal conduct, e.g., sexual assault (ranging from forcefully grabbing to fondling, forced kissing, rape, etc.)



ScenarioSR Ellen Johnson is new in the Sea Cadets. Recently, a senior cadet, PO3 Doug James, has been paying a lot of attention to Ellen. He tells her that she's "hot," that he'd like to get together with her, that he knows how to make her happy. SR Johnson is flattered by the attention, but she really doesn't like PO3 James that much, and is already bother by rumors circulating at drill. She has asked him to stop bothering her at Sea Cadets and to stop calling her at home. He won't take "no" for an answer and persists in pursuing SR Johnson, hoping she will give in.

• Is this sexual harassment? • What should SR Johnson do? • How can this situation be resolved?



Navy & NSCC Policy

• NSCC Policy on Sexual Harassment in any form is “zero tolerance”.

• The Navy is committed to maintaining a work environment free from unlawful discriminatory practices and inappropriate behavior.



Sexual Harassment is Prohibited

Sexual harassment in the NSCC and the Navy, for NSCC, military and civilian personnel, is prohibited because it:

– Causes hard feelings between shipmates

– Harms morale

– Interferes with productivity



No Individual Will:

• Commit Sexual Harassment

• Take reprisal against a person providing information on an incident of sexual harassment.

• Knowingly make false accusations.

• While in a supervisory or command position, condone or ignore sexual harassment.



Victims of Sexual Harassment

• Personnel who believe they are victims of sexual harassment have the responsibility to seek resolution and redress without fear of reprisal.

• Submit only legitimate complaints of sexual harassment. Persons reporting unfound incidents will be punished.



Supervisor Responsibilities

Supervisors shall ensure that notification of sexual harassment can be made in a command climate that does not tolerate acts of:

– Reprisal

– Intimidation

– Further harassment



Sexual Harassment Incidents

• All reported incidents of sexual harassment will be investigated and resolved at the lowest possible level.

• All incidents will be investigated promptly with sensitivity.

• Feedback will be provided to all affected individuals. The complainant and the subject of the complaint may appeal the findings.

• Counseling support and referral services are available for personnel involved in the incident in the US Navy.



Results of Sexual Harassment

USNSCC Regulations provide for a full range of administrative and disciplinary actions, including:– Counseling

– Comments on evaluations/Service Record

– Referral to the Executive Director

– Dismissal from the program




US Navy personnel found guilty of sexual harassment may receive one or more of the following:– Counseling

– Comments on evaluations/Service Record

– Punishment under UCMJ, Article 92

– Separation from the Navy




Military personnel found guilty of the following forms of sexual harassment will be processed for immediate separation:– Actions, threats, or attempts to influence another’s career in

exchange for sexual favors

– Physical contact of sexual nature that is in violation of the UCMJ



Why is this so important?

• Teamwork is a big part of the NSCC and the navy environment.

• Sexual harassment can have a dramatic impact on team building and how teams work.



Team Effects

Sexual harassment within a team can affect the whole team by:– Destroying morale

– Increased absenteeism

– Lowered cooperation

– Decreased effectiveness

– Resentment among team members

– Loss of personal, organizational, and public trust

– More difficult decision making



Individual Effects

Effects on individuals who have been sexually harassed can also include:– Stress related illness

– Deterioration of professional and personal relationships

– Lowered self-esteem

– Anger



• Take actions to foster an environment free from any form of sexual harassment.

• Apply the Reasonable Person Standard in all conduct with NSCC and Navy personnel.

• Report instances of sexual harassment using the chain of command.

What Can I do?



ScenarioAN Sue Freeman and AN Mary Jones are friends. They are both cadets in the same Sea Cadet unit. Lately, AN Freeman has been teasing AN Jones about a male cadet in their unit. AN Freeman claims that this cadet, PO3 Eddie Baxter, really "likes" AN Jones and wants to get together with her. AN Freeman constantly refers to PO3 Baxter’s physique in crude sexual terms and makes references to his alleged romantic history. AN Jones is very uncomfortable with this teasing and has asked AN Freeman to stop. AN Freeman thinks it's funny and has no intention of stopping. Besides, she thinks PO3 Baxter and AN Jones would make a good couple.

• Is this sexual harassment? • What should AN Jones do? • How can this situation be resolved?



Fraternization

• Defined as personal relationships between seniors and subordinates that:– Are unduly familiar

– Do not respect differences in rank or grade

• Can include relationships between shipmates in some instances where this behavior is prohibited.



Fraternization• Fraternization could be between:

– Officer - Cadet– Senior Cadet - Junior Cadet– Cadet - Cadet (in some instances)

• Fraternization is gender neutral!

• Fraternization is:– Detrimental to good order and discipline– Violation of tradition– PROHIBITED



Fraternization

• Fraternization could result in:– The questioning of a senior’s objectivity– Preferential treatment– Undermining

• Fraternization could involve:– Dating– Sexual Relations– Living Together



Fraternization in the Sea Cadets

• ANY relationship between an officer and a cadet!

• Some relationships or actions between cadets, including:

– ANY relationship at Boot Camp– Public Display of Affection in Uniform– Familiarity while at Sea Cadet Functions (Navy Ball excluded)



Reporting a Grievance

• Both the US Navy and the Sea Cadets have procedures for reporting instances of both Sexual Harassment and Fraternization.

• Grievances should be handled at the lowest possible level in the Chain of Command.

• There are three steps to reach a satisfactory solution:– Directly approach the person involved– Third Party Mediation (LPO or other member of chain of command)– Request Captain’s Mast if not resolved with other methods



Review of Class Objectives

1. Identify/define sexual harassment and related terms.

2. Classify some behaviors into the zones of sexual harassment.

3. Understand the USNSCC and the Navy’s policies on sexual harassment.

4. Explain how sexual harassment affects team building and team work.

5. Define and understand Fraternization in a Sea Cadet environment.

6. Explain the Sea Cadet’s grievance procedures.



Questions???

sexual harassment & fraternization

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