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Show r 22 Aug. 17, 1995 Hilltop Times Sexual harassment guidelines hold commanders accountable Dorn said the military services have already enacted many of the report's 48 recommendations. Still, he said, officials found a number of instances where things went wrong, complaints were not taken seriously or investigated properly or reprisals occurred. "There were enough of these deviations that we felt it important to issue these recommendations," Dorn said. Dorn took issue with a report released by the Department of Vete- ples as the basis for fulfilling the goals of effectiveness and fairness, Widnall said. by Evelyn D. Harris American Forces Information Service First, commanders' commitment must be visible and unequivocal. Second, the services can choose their own means to achieve the common ends: While an Army post or an Air Force base can support a robust equal oppoto lead. Dorn, undersecretary of defense for rtunity staff, a Navy submarine e personnel and readiness, and Widnall, wouldn't be expected to have a officer. outlined of the Air Force, equal opportunity secretary Third, DOD will issue clear definitough new guidelines to stop harassment and discrimination by making tions of sexual harassment and disleaders more accountable for the comcrimination for use by all services as well as guidelines on how to file complaint process. DOD's Task plaints and protect the rights of all inThe two calls sexual When Edwin Dorn harassment repugnant, he sounds like he is spitting out something extremely distasteful. Sheila Widnall says harassment happens when leaders fail REPORT y JL, full-tim- Force on Discrimination and Sexual Harassment, which recently sent its final report to Defense Secretary William J. Perry. Officials said an updated DOD directive incorporating the changes will be issued shortly. Widnall said unit effectiveness and fairness are the two essential goals of the military equal opportunity system. "Because of the dangerous nature of their job, military units must function as a team unified by special bonds of trust and mutual respect. Discrimination and harassment weaken those bonds and create distrust, she said. "To ensure our readiness, commanders ) rans Affairs Minneapolis Center, which said virtually all female veterans surveyed had experienced sexual harassment and nearly 25 percent had experienced rape or attempted rape. He said a small, selective sampling of women being treated for service-relate- d disorders was not representative of all service women. Figures from a much larger survey of military personnel were much lower, he said. That 1988 survey found 68 percent of service women felt they'd been harassed and 5 percent were victims of sexual assault or attempted rape. DOD will release an updated survey this volved. Fourth, equal opportunity training should continue throughout a military member's career, with training for officers stressing their personal responsibility. Finally, complaint systems should be prompt, thorough and fair. They should also allow for informal resolution, prevent reprisals and include appropriate sanctions. One recommendation strongly en- courages commanders to conduct equal opportunity climate assessments every two or three years. These assessments measure unit members' perceptions about the command's human relations atmosphere and unit ef- must deal effectively with such offenses." Fairness is just as important. "The military's team succeeds only when all members are accepted as equals," she fectiveness. The task force also recommends the services: Evaluate each service member's commitment to equal opportunity and added. The task force identified five princi M I document deviations from that in performance appraisals; Ensure the chain of command remain an integral part of complaint processing and resolution; Ensure time limits for complaint filing, investigation and feedback to complainants are met; Insist senior officials and commanders prominently post statements describing their personal and institutional commitment to equal opportunity. The task force worked for a year and undertook the most intensive review of the military's equal opportunity svstem ever, said Widnall. summer. "Still," Dorn added, "whether we're talking about 10 percent, 50 percent or 90 percent of women, we take it very seriously, and we're determined to stop it. Sexual harassment is illegal, it's repugnant and it undermines military effectiveness. Secretary Perry has said he will not tolerate it, and we are putting in place a series of mechanisms to prevent it or to deal with it when it occurs." NOW OPEN! JILanaarui (Jalace. 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