Harassment & Hazing

1. Harassment & Hazing

2. Harassment • Harassment is ANY conduct, which makes another person feel uncomfortable, inadequate, embarrassed or threatened in ANY way. • Such conduct must stop and never be repeated when; the victim makes it known to others that the conduct is perceived as OBJECT ABLE.

3. Sea Cadet’s Definition • Harassment is a form of discrimination that involves unwelcome advances, and other verbal or physical conduct when submission to or rejection of such conduct is made a condition of a persons’ position or job, or when such conduct interferes with an individual’s performance or creates an intimidating hostile or offensive atmosphere

4. THE FIRST NO IS THE ONLY NO!

5. Sexual Harassment • Is the infringement of a person’s human rights to be able to work in an environment free of unwanted sexual attention or pressure.

6. Sexual Harassment • Sexual Harassment is gender neutral. • This means it can happen between members of the opposite sex as well as members of the same sex.

7. Sexual Harassment may take the form of: • Verbal Abuse • Teasing, Whistling or Insults • Demands for Dates or Sexual Favors • Remarks about someone’s clothing or body • Unwanted touching

8. Other Types of Harassment • Telling “dirty jokes” • Rude gestures • Name-calling • Teasing • Hazing • Forced participation in activities which the person does not want to participate

9. Traffic Light System of Behavior • Green Light • Performance Counseling • Touching that is instructional in nature, showing concern • A polite compliment • Friendly conversation

10. Traffic Light System of Behavior • Yellow Light • Whistling • Questions about ones personal life • Explicit comments • Suggestive posters or calendars • Off-color jokes • Foul Language

11. Traffic Light System of Behavior • Red Light • Explicit pictures or remarks • Using your status to get dates • Obscene letters or comments • Sexual assault • Rape

12. Fraternization • Definition • spend time with people: to spend time with other people socially, especially people with whom you should not be friendly • Basically • You earn your positions and you earn your privileges

13. Fraternization Remember, when you are at training, you are there to train. You are not there to meet a boyfriend or girlfriend. Do not place yourself in a situation that can be construed as fraternization.

14. Fraternization • This means to never allow yourself to be alone with a member of the opposite sex. • Refrain from holding hands, hugging, and kissing. • Travel in groups.

15. Fraternization • If you find yourself attracted to someone at a training, wait until the training is over to pursue your interest. • Don’t jeopardize the other person and their training. • This includes all NSCC Personnel. • Be aware of your responsibility.

16. Fraternization For those in Leadership positions: • Do not show favoritism to someone who is under your leadership. • For Officers, Instructors, Midshipman, and Petty Officers, This means everyone else at the training.

17. Fraternization • As a Command Representative, you are always in a Leadership position whether you are at a training or drilling with your home unit. • It is your responsibility to ensure that the best image for the NSCC is always presented.

18. Hazing • “Hazing” refers to any activity expected of someone joining a group (or to maintain full status in a group) that humiliates, degrades or risks emotional and/or physical harm, regardless of the person's willingness to participate.  In years past, hazing practices were typically considered harmless pranks or comical antics associated with young men in college fraternities.

19. Hazing Myths • Hazing is a problem for fraternities and sororities primarily • Hazing is no more than foolish pranks that sometimes go awry • As long as there's no malicious intent, a little hazing should be O.K. • Hazing is an effective way to teach respect and develop discipline • If someone agrees to participate in an activity, it can't be considered hazing • It's difficult to determine whether or not a certain activity is hazing--it's such a gray area sometimes.

20. What to Do?? • Use the Chain of Command • Inform the next person in command that you want to speak to someone higher up • If nothing else works, one may always go to the Commanding Officer • Keep in mind that the Commanding Officer will investigate to whether the Chain of Command was used • Complaints can be written or verbal • But never use e-mail or the phone to place a complaint

21. Hazing • If you have to ask if it's hazing, it is. • If in doubt, ask someone in the Chain of Command. If you don’t ask, you won’t have your answer. • If you haze, you have low self-esteem. • If you allow hazing to occur, you are a 'hazing enabler.’ • Failure to stop hazing could result in death...

22. Hazing Forms of Hazing: • Short Sheeting • Tea Bagging • Dipping a sleeping persons hands in warm water • Any action that you wouldn’t want done to you

23. This is a combined directive from the NHQ Rep, PSW; SRD for Region 11;  SRD for Region 12. • Hazing/sexual harassment has again risen it's ugly head at summer trainings and it is time to take direct action on those individuals that continue to "not get the message" that such actions will not be tolerated. 

24. Region 11/12 Hazing Directive ALCON: •  With summer in full swing and many weeks left to go, we are directing all to review the issue of HAZING AND FRATERNIZATION with each of your cadets and staff that will be going to training.  While this topic is usually covered at the training in-briefing, our diligence starts at the unit level.

25. Region 11/12 Hazing Directive •  For your planning purposes and as incentive to our cadets/staff to not be involved in any unacceptable activities related to HAZING/FRATERNIZATION, let everyone know that if a cadet/staff is sent home for either one of these offenses, the following can be expected:

26. Region 11/12 Hazing Directive • Cadets will be REDUCED IN RATE • All subsequent training orders will be cancelled • Any advancements will be delayed for 6-12 months. 

27. Region 11/12 Hazing Directive • This is in addition to any other consequences that might be deemed appropriate at the unit/region level.  • All unit level punishments will be reviewed by the RD, SRD and NHQ Rep to ensure the punishment is adequate for the action. 

28. Region 11/12 Hazing Directive • Termination or suspension will definitely be considered in all cases depending on severity of the action(s).

29. Region 11/12 Hazing Directive • Adults (depending on the circumstances) can expect to be dismissed from the program.

30. Region 11/12 Hazing Directive • Active/Reserve Military Personnel on Orders can expect to have their parent command notified and must remember that they are subject to the UCMJ.

31. Region 11/12 Hazing Directive • This is no joke.  Our COTCs and their staffs already work hard enough without having to put up with behavior that goes beyond “they’re just kids.” 

32. Region 11/12 Hazing Directive • Region 11 and 12 have worked very hard to eliminate hazing and fraternization at trainings.

33. Who?? • This includes those “who didn’t participate.  I was just standing there”; there are no innocent by-standers.

34. Who?? • Any individual having knowledge of the actions; who didn’t take appropriate action to stop it. • This means that even if you aren’t present but overheard something, you MUST report it to the Chain of Command.

35. Reminder • A gentle reminder - just because the person(s) are not caught at training doesn’t mean that the same fate will not befall them when it is found out later even well after the training.

36. Hazing and Harassment • Hazing or Harassment will not be tolerated at the Unit level either. • The same consequences will be utilized for violations of this policy at your home unit. • You may contact your Regional Director to report offenses.

37. Responsibility • It is the responsibility of every Sea Cadet, League Cadet, Instructor, Midshipman, and Officer to ensure that Hazing and Harassment is not tolerated in the Naval Sea Cadet Program.

38. Take Action • Say something when you see someone about to act in a manner you believe to be Hazing or Harassment. • Immediately report the incident to the Chain of Command. • Do not fear being labeled a snitch or a rat. • Remember the core values.

39. What About the Victim? • Is the victim enjoying it? • How does it make the victim feel? • How would you feel if you were the victim?

40. What About the Victim? • Feels violated • Feels ostracized • Can cause physical or emotional harm

41. What About You? • How would you feel if someone you loved or cared deeply about were the victim of harassment or hazing?

42. What About You? • How would you feel if you knew that your actions in a hazing or harassment incident led to the sent someone to the hospital? • How would you feel if you knew your actions caused permanent physical injury or disability?

43. What About You? • How would you feel if you knew your actions caused permanent emotional trauma? • How would you feel if your actions led to someone’s death?

44. Effects of Hazing and Harassment • Detrimental to the program as a whole • Reduces effectiveness of the team concept • Physical disfigurement or injury or death • Emotional problems

45. Review • What is considered Hazing? • What is considered Harassment? • What is considered Fraternization? • What actions should you take? • Who is responsible for preventing these forms of abuse? • What are the consequences?

46. Question and Answers • Please ask any question you feel we have not answered. • If you have a concern or would like to report an incident, see me afterwards.