The hearing is called to order. Welcome everyone to this afternoons military personnel subcommittee hearing. The purpose of todays hearing is to receive an overview of the report on assessment, im sorry, Sexual Harassment and violence of the military Service Academies. And to understand the efforts of the academies have undertaken to prevent Sexual Assault we will also have the privilege of hearing from survivors who are attending a Service Academy and we thank them for being here today. The trust and confidence in their fellow Service Members in order to accomplish the difficult mission. The military Service Academies are told from the beginning. These crimes have no place in our society much less than our preeminent military Service Academies. Theyve dedicated numerous resources and time to improving Sexual Assault prevention and response. They have the prevention and valuesbased trading into every aspect of their curriculum. Its before being commissioned and in addition, the Service Academies have worked hard to ensure that all allegations are thoroughly investigated and perpetrated perpetrators are held accountable. There remains much work to be done. The report shows the rate has increased in all Service Academies while reports have decreased. In addition, the significant prevalence of Sexual Harassment, the data point that is new to the survey shows additional work is needed. We will hear from to panel this afternoon. We are honored to have with us survivors of Sexual Assault. I want to thank the witnesses for their bravery and testifying today. The testimony will give all of its important insights. The superintendents of the military academies and i look forward to hearing the reviews on the Sexual Assault report and also look forward to hearing about the new and existing programs as they are designed to prevent Sexual Assault. I would like to ask unanimous consent from Elizabeth Walker legislative counsel for the investigations and legislative division. This is an issue i care deeply about. Sexual assault in the academies is a scourge on the nation. We all know that the numbers of assault are far more than that of the women and men are victimized by Sexual Assaults both women and men by harassment at the academies. Creating a toxic culture that follows the students straight into military leadership. Survivors of Sexual Assault often leave the academy under their own volition or they are forced out depriving the military of future leaders. Perpetrators of these acts often go unpunished and graduate reinforcing this criminal behavior. This also emboldens them to continue to assault their fellow Service Members as they ascended the ranks. To break the cycle we need strong reforms to make clear that this behavior is not tolerated. In fact the only result in cases like this should be dismissed. Military leadership for decades testified that they are of one mind. They have zero tolerance for assault. Tens of thousands of survivors of these acts subsequent retaliation at times ineptitude of the chain of command makes a mockery of the stated policy. Words alone are just words. If we have any hope of stamping out the issue, the tone must be set at the academy. This isnt just about right and wrong, but being able to attract the very best served and readiness in our fighting force. Nothing short of the future of our military depends on us getting this right. The department of defense on annual harassment for Academic Year is 2015, 2016 show a complete failure in addressing this epidemic. 12 of women in the academies experience Sexual Assault, 12 . And nearly one half face persistent Sexual Harassment. Simply put, this is disgusting. Since the last report fewer students at the Service Academies have reported Sexual Harassment but the rates have increased. Both of these are trending in the wrong direction. One reason could be the ostracism of Sexual Assault victims. 47 of those that reported the unwanted contact experience social isolation and maltreatment. We must foster the students that have been sexually assaulted or harassed feel they can come forward without fear of retaliation. I would like to hear from the second Panel Witnesses on steps they are taking to reverse these trends to ensure those that entered the military ranks as leaders who bring a culture of respect and dignity to their service but before we hear from the Service Economies and the departments departments i want e the courageous survivors who have testified on the first panel. And he attended thannie attendey from 2009 to 2011. Secondclass sheila krane attends the academy and Stephanie Gross and our former cadets at the academy at west point. Some of the stories you will hear today are heartbreaking and revolting. They did nothing wrong by reporting their assault and yet their chain of command failed them and the chain of command that was supposed to actually protect them field. We cannot hold this in the countries most prestigious institutions. I look forward to hearing from the witnesses today. I ask unanimous consent members be allowed to participate in todays hearing after all the members have had an opportunity to ask questions is there any objection . Without objection, the subcommittee members will be recognized at the appropriate time for five minutes. We will give each witness an opportunity to present his or her testimony and each member an opportunity to question the witnesses for five minutes into the also respectfully remind the witnesses to summarize. Your statements will be a part a part of the hearing record while we welcome the first sheila krane United States academy. Ms. Arianna former cadets at the academy, former midshipmen you may now make your opening remarks. Thank you ladies and gentlemen for allowing me the opportunity to speak of my experience in this process. Im here as an individual and i do not represent the views or opinions of the United StatesNaval Academy. I have experienced unwanted contact about the incident. The case concluded the individual was dismissed and is no longer a midshipmen at the Naval Academy. The whole process was difficult i am confident in saying that the resources that were and still are provided to me helped me through the healing process through this day. You are now recognized for five minutes. I am a former cadets with the United Military academy and i attended west point from july 2013 until i was discharged in 2015 where i went on to attend the university. First i would like to think the congresswoman and her staff for having me here. I left the day that i was discharged from hospital suffering from a stress induced high blood pressure. I found out al all of my belongd been packed without my knowledge and the coldest january i was left with a pair of shorts, jackets and sandals for my return home to indiana. I was only then escorted to the plane because it was shipped off with my belongings. When i boarded the plane i was escorted off and was told the captain that was retaliating against me wanted to speak to me. He asked me if i wanted to return to the hotel and i replied i wanted to stay but i was confused at what he meant and i had no money to pay for it or clothing. He hung up and took my answer as a no. After i hung up i received a phone call from those on west point asking why i said no asking if i wanted to stay a cadets and i realized only then why there was the call from the captain. If i didnt know my answer would have been yes and despite what had happened to me i would rather have stayed and then forced out. My exboyfriend who was caucasian was referring to the movie jingo unchained because he was in a relationship with me. The team went to puerto rico where they made remarks about my body, how my bathing suit fit and talked openly about having sex with me. I protested this and faced escalating reprisal. Its supposed to be a group of individuals with skills required to complete its task. If we are not able to simply swim together how do you fight together to defend this country . The head coach went on to punish me by forcing me to practice alone for two weeks before the biggest championship. The assistant coach decided to take it upon himself to make sure that i was properly train trained. The navy admiral shook my hand and congratulations and said to me he won this time. I explained to prove the point no one could bring me down and that day they didnt. We are taught to always protect your battle buddies and never leave them behind. The office substantiated my case and i found the sharp office the point was substantiated. I then became friends with the cadet. I solved the distraught state that she was in with new bruises forming on her neck and chest she told me repeatedly she would never do this again and she had no faith should be taken care of. Having trust in the system i urged her to report and i told her we needed to do this for others after us. Even though i was left behind i refuse to do the same to her. We need to set an example. The system failed once again as my friend and i retaliated against. Prohibited from socializing with her and forced to sign a confidentiality form. Subjected to arbitrary discipline and followed a whistleblower complaint. Eventually in january of 2015 i thought i had no option but to resign although the processing of resignation normally takes a month or so line was expedited to one day and to my detriment. When stephanie tried to visit me in the hospital she was confronted and told the only way to remain in the hospital is if she admitted herself for psychiatric evaluation. They made clear that i wa it clo be punished during a time of uncertainty. I wrote a Resignation Letter and this was submitted with all levels of the leadership. In that letter i write i dont want to be i be any place that s perpetrators to remain in the rains. I dont believe in double standards. They are not held to the same standard or held at all. To protect my own wellbeing and goals considering these issues. In that discussion you told me that would be a great asset. Instead, the numbers and reports doubled since i left. Two years ago they asked why we were here and the answer was to help to prevent what happened to us from others. If we can come up with a solution that needs fixed for the future cadets and officers. I would like to return to the academy to complete what i started. I can be an asset to others and when he said to me i could be a great leader and officer in the military. Thank you. I would like to thank the congresswomans office for extending an invitation regarding my time as a cadet. I still have a great love for west point and respected and admired the leaders. I was discharged in 2015. Over the two years and eight months being at west pointswitched between companies a total of four times. Because of this i get a little stability and leadership and it contributed greatly to my difficulties at west point. My first assault was reported by medical personnel in the spring of my freshman year. I was recovering from an emergency Pelvic Surgery and found to be related to the assault. My surgeon advised me that he was unsure due to the inflammation and potential of scarring if i would ever be able to bear children. I thought reporting that only cause further damage emotionally and ive requested that it remained restricted without investigation and was later reported by the commander as he became aware of the incident and had to report these. The next day they pressured me for a name telling me i was a strong woman of duty and honor i would comply. I feel my case would have been restricted. There was insufficient evidence to find the contact. The investigators refused to take my clothing for testing or a blood alcohol level of my essay length contributing to the decision of the case. The addition of the special victims was increasingly helpful in this case. In the months prior to the resignation i was subjected to the actions of a pattern that indicated reprisal. Every time i would initiate a report i would receive a new punishment from drug testing that was negative. I became desperate and not surprisingly it was damaging after missing many courses during the investigation and i began to feel i had no other option but to leave the academy. I was hoping i could speak to me to speak to them in lower settings to ask for the mentorship and find out why my position became so distorted. My entire chain of command behind me. I then asked the Lieutenant General i emailed you in desperation to let me speak with you and privately before you make decisions on this. He denied my request. I decided the chance to add context to the work you chose te to judge me by. By somebody else that i found one captain had influence almost every factor of my case. I wanted to tell you i was sorry for the mistakes i did meet and i looked up to you as a reader. Even then i didnt deserve to be treated in the way that i was. I later found from an agent that you learned greatly from me as a cadet and instructed them to protect me in any way they cou could. Unfortunately, i never heard these things. My perspective each time i reported in action i received punishment and to confirm my suspicions i wasnt wanted with your institution. If i felt my chain of command cared for me i would have felt differently. The chain of command had given up on me to leave the institution with the desire to serve my country. I do not blame west point as an institution. I blame the failure of leadership that relied on the loyalty that they had ever spoken to. Ive been allowed to tell my side of the leadership and have been able to stay. A system of investigating the complaints that weve great power in the hands of one individual or single individuals motivated by the institutional goal is not an effective mechanism for victims. After signing my oath the first thing given to me next with him on the board i am an american soldier i am a member of the team and i serve the people of the United States and i live the army values. Ive always place the Mission First and never quit or leave a comment. These are the words that inspired me to continue even when i have nothing to gain and everything to lose. I believe actions speak louder than words and simply coming here to state a problem does nothing to guarantee the solution without action. With the office i decided to reapply for admission to the academy to finish at the end of 2012. I believe that the military and west point made positive strides to fix the problem and understand. But the Service Academy specifically shoulacademyspecife models for the nation and the world. We were part of a group of individuals that were frenzied reports of Sexual Harassment and out of the four of us, none of them remain. West point and all the Service Academies changed for the future of the armed forces. There is much more work to be done. Thank you for your time. In 2008 inducted into the United StatesNaval Academy prior to acceptance my parents were concerned for my safety given the Sexual Assault scandal and during the campus visit my parents and they were told by the Naval Academy representatives including my coaches and the Athletic Director but the Naval Academy didnt have a Sexual Assault problem and i would be safe. Shortly after, i experienced horrible and traumatic events. I was raped not only once but twice. Both times by fellow classmates in the company who i have to face every single day. My emotional state began to deteriorate. During my evaluation i told the position i had been raised who didnt ask when or where that had occurred that they check the box and prescribed me an antidepressant. The culture is that of the boys only club where men are considered superior to women and women are referred to as dubs that stands for dumb ugly bitch. After two and a half years of emotional hell i broke down and was sent by the chain of command to a psychiatric ward at the hospital. I spent three days there diagnosed with personality disorder by a practitioner not a medical license doctor. If i could get a transfer out of the company i would be okay and i madi needed to request a free semester to my Company Commander who refused to transfer me every semester. I thought my life slipping away and as a final effort then shipment captain robert clark. Upon discussing my situation he told me to grow up and within days began the separation process. In july of 2011, and academic review board was cold which i thought was unusual given my Overall Academic record. During the hearing members of the board openly discussed my sentiment and medical record all of which without my consent. And in the end used m by medical treatment as a basis for my separation. They found it easier to label me as having a personality disorder than to treat me for the trauma of being raped. It seems the marine corps leave no man behind does not apply to the men and women who are raped instead they are frequently left behind to deal with the pain, anguish and longterm emotional stress. While the rapists continue without any consequence. The navy continues to defend the claims of the assaults of the Naval Academy as small and the women reported being raped or just mentally ill. How shameful. Military leaders signed the growth rate as being good claiming that they are glad to hear women are coming forward to report that they dont seem to get more of them are bad and if thethey continue due to the feeg of a military leaders to address the cause, there is a small but active group whose crimes are rarely investigated let alone prosecuted in the military finds it easier to destroy the life of the victim. I was out of the academy while the rapists are now serving as officers victimizing more people. Victims who see the treatment of those before them such as myself were not likely to come forward like i did. They know that it will be the consequences. The Naval Academy all forms of medical treatment and counseling ended. I was on my own to fend for myself. Thanks for the support of my family i was able to get the treatment i needed that began with weaning me off the drugs prescribed by the military doctors, drugs that predated the personality disorders i was exhibiting. After more than five years in detox i am off all prescribed medications and ptsd treatment was developed in fact by a former military green beret. I was completing my education at the academy given i only had one year remaining. I will never forget the day i had to return my class ring which represented three years of how i have to endure. I have to serve my country as a naval officer all of which was denied to me via my Naval Academy leadership. Thank you. For me it just worked out very well and it was a very positive experience. Ms. Bullard. I experienced Sexual Harassment so if you dont mind if i speak on a policy id like to change on that and a recent report about Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault would be the only change they have done for at least what they call a teal team were cadets wear tshirts and when they go to the game they get free concessions. This is their awareness for Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault. I dont think its going to fix the problem for cadets. A deeper understanding is missing their. There was a policy that needs to be changed it has to start with the cadets and i think there needs to be some sort of understanding. Thank you. Ms. Gross was a policy decision you would most like to see changed in Sexual Assault cases . One of the reasons general counsel counsel was unable to visit me for the offender policy please move your microphone a little bit closer. Is that there . One of the reasons general patton was unable to meet with you for the open door policy is it was conflicted as i was under investigation were misconduct and understand his position required in that oversight and not be in conflict but the open door policy for retaliation maybe theres there is some provision that could be made so that the victim can be can go to the superintendent if they can at best only person left that can talk to them. What is the policy and procedure that you would most like to see changed in Sexual Assault cases . For me my first person to report to was a fellowship man. He was a senior at the time and i was a junior and bad in my opinion is wrong. I dont think any to be telling what happened to me to a fellow classmate or a person that is a year older than me. In the Naval Academy rumors spread fast and telling a pier opens the doors up to more rumors. As for another policy i believe that they should not be just educating the midshipmen. They should also educate the leadership and the staff of these academies to be able to help identify signs of those who are raped and maybe go to them and ask and talk to them about it. For right now midshipmen are trained by their peers and thats what i went through, training of midshipmen at team of midshipmen and to be honest nobody took it seriously. Thank you. Ms. Craine i dont know if you mentioned this but some of the panels that mention retaliation. If you experience retaliation was a through social media or in person and also did you report that . In my case the person who assaulted me was in the same company as me which provides a very unique situation where i have to see that person every single day. We were in the same class, the same company paid in terms of retaliation people found out very quickly that something was going on and he was more than me through what is happening is people didnt know which side to choose and then it became a choose a side situation which i was present at the opportunity to lead the company into not experienced retaliation so i chose either him or me but i decided to leave the company because i felt more comfortable in leaving the company in case i would have experienced retaliation if i had stayed. So in terms of that. My own time is expiring so he could all go quickly ms. Bullard i think you mentioned experiencing retaliation. Was it through social media or in person and did you report the retaliation and another self . Yes sir i did report the retaliation which caused leaders with more misconduct, people retaliating against me and this misconduct against me. In the answer to your first question i think there are too many hands in the pot for investigating officers. More times than not they have the relation either to someone whos in charge of me or someone in charge of sorry. Im being a really emotional right now. I think there needs to be a third party is what im trying to say. Ms. Gross. Very briefly with my case and nap was very prominent at the academy at this time so unfortunately a lot of my retaliation by my peers appeared on the app. I walked around campus with bruises on my neck it couldnt be hidden by my uniform. From there i couldnt report it because there was no way to determine who it was. It was about 300 people. Secondarily to that i was as the first time to move in the second time i was not. Thats usually considered a problem. You need to be very quick im sorry. For me it was a lot of rumors. I was labeled a who got around to my process of separation happen really quickly so most of the retaliation came after i was party separated from peers contacting me and saying negative things toward me about what i did. Mr. Chairman im going to hold my questioning till the end and allow my colleague to my left to ask bears. Ms. Tsongas. I thank you all for being here. This is certainly an issue that this committee has spent a good time looking at and you are providing additional insight that is much needed. Hard to tell your stories but i appreciate the determination and tenacity all of you are bringing to your presence here and to your continued desire to serve your nation. They think despite all of this. The focus of bit on the assaults but im curious about the cultural issues and i think much of the Sexual Harassment that you all experienced is rooted in a culture that has yet to fully embrace the diversity of the core that you are part of. What i would like to hear from each one of you is lets just say from day one as you made your way into your particular academy if you experience things that you would like academies to take note of as they begin to think are broadly, not just about these particular crimes but how they create an inclusive culture. Thank you. From day one i would definitely say that the upperclass play a huge role in setting the command climate of each company. I was the plebe when this happened and i came into this i and i thought it was okay and that to me was scary. I knew deep down inside that it was okay so i reported it but i have the support of my roommates at the time in my very Close Friends and its good that they had supported me in reporting but at the same time i didnt feel confident and relying in that chain of command of the midshipmen at the time. The culture does have an impact especially the training and the awareness of that the upperclass have especially leads underclass with regards to Sexual Assault and harassment. Regarding mine i would say similar to what was said. As a loyalty there. My time i dealt with Sexual Harassment. Every single day i saw him and there was no overlay. We are both swimming in the same place and there is no way that i could get away from him especially in that atmosphere if i wanted to keep up with mice were. I would say that along with the fact that as soon as i opened up my case for Sexual Harassment the whole team battled against me. You dont tell on the team. You dont get the team in trouble. He dont give negative feedback about the team because you are drawing attention and youre getting people in trouble. Eventually thats what led to me before my big championship a protected site i was probably the hardest thing to do to see every single one of my teammates, no one said a thing about me and i assumed i had special treatment. Thats all i have to say. Thank you. I think this problem begins with the fact that we have different standards than men do and we are physiologically different but we could as we have lower standards visit we the men do initially think that they wear less there than them because we cant perform the same level that they do. We are doing these operations in all these Different Things and the women are segregated and sleeping by ourselves. The men are participating in shooting exercises that night that women are off to the side because they dont want so now we are further segregated. At the academy when they take the woman out to a different place that segregation is an issue. It starts at the lowest level. When the sophomore cadet teaches the freshman cadet about leadership and when the graduates of the academy go out the world in their first platoon and show leadership skills for the first time. We dont have much time. I also second ms. Craine about how the underclass at the time. When my first Sexual Assault prevention classes as a plebe we were told the story about how a female had said that a star Football Player had her. He was segregated accordingly and that she had lied about it. They finish the story with dont be that girl. Thats what they tell us or told my class at least in the Sexual Assault prevention class. Thank you all. I appreciate you being here today. Ms. La rosa you are recognized for five minutes. Thank you mr. Chairman and i thank each of you ladies for testifying today. Midshipmen craine are you familiar with the Sexual Assault and Prevention Program . I am. How effective would you say that it is in an effort to deal with these issues that you experienced . I would say in terms of training midshipmen ive seen it evolve. It has definitely come a long way. Definitely size a plebe when i was going through the process how now as im becoming an upper class men the mission is taking hold of it and make it more for a positive thing. People are participating in mainly to guys in the class that i want to participate. Terms of people getting the summer training thats also really huge. Ive seen really positive people taking those positions and im really impressed. As a future leader and our armed forces do you feel that this equips you with the tools to deal with cases like this as you counsel and work with your future sailors . Or marines depending upon where you are wrenched . I do think so to some extent. Its a little offtopic, i do see if there were a way to incorporate actual midshipmen, actual midshipmen victims into these classes it would make a bigger impact. People would say that as my peer, that is my friend and people would listen to those classes more. I thank you for that and i think all of us on the panel agreed or on the committee that even one incident is unacceptable and certainly in our military but as we see the responses and how to improve the situation its important to get that kind of feedback from each of you. Now id like to switch a little bit to the army. Ms. Bullard do you think that the sharp training, are you familiar with the sharp training and do you think its a useful tool in the content is helpful or not helpful for thats . I believe its helpful to a nick stent just like midshipmens craine said. Has to come from the cadets. Just simply having an upperclassman present a media file about Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment isnt good enough anymore. Has to come deeper from within so relating to having appear come, to another person saying hey this is what happened to me you guys have to understand that this happens and the funny thing is the culture most cadets believe almost every single report is a lie when 90 of it is true. Thats just the culture. Most cadets dont believe in any woman that reports. Most of them, especially like ms. Gross explained. Along the lines to address ms. Gross if i may and im not sure if it was in place when you were a cadet but the respect program which targets those who demonstrate a lack of maturity and acts inconsistent with the army values such as sexual behavior or sexist behaviors. Was the respectful implemented . The program was very active. The cadets were subjected to go into that program that im not completely familiar on the top pacific way but i would like to say the air force academy is a program called peers that acts within the company and supports those ideas. You feel based upon the three of you having the most recent experience and i very much appreciate your testimony and thank you for that length do you see these programs beginning at the criticality of the issue is just a matter of massaging the implementation including feedback from my cadets are midshipmen or do you feel the programs are viable as a matter of execution . Absolutely sir. When she got there the program is rep evolving. Two years ago she started the academy and we were there two years ago so that has evolved over the last three years and making good progress. I really appreciate this feedback. It gives us a unique opportunity to query but it appears that the leaders in trying to address this very real concern because we all believe in being a former military leader with decades of service it becomes critically important to know are the programs being implemented and do they have value so i thank you for your responses and thank you mr. Chairman. I yield back. You are recognized for five minutes. Thank you first of also being being for being so brave and coming forward in educating the public. This is not easy for anybody especially in the limelight. Im concerned from hearing your individual testimonies and please correct me that there wasnt any education or Entry Program for do you are plebe or a cadet. Im not too far removed from college but i do remember my freshman orientation we were specific way told what were the consequences of not having consent and there was a very defined not to go to the academy but a defined process if you were accused of Sexual Assault and that you would the removed from the school and also if possible turned over to a local prosecutor for prosecution. When you all were entering your schools or your academies is there a portion within that first week were cadets or pleads or whatever its explained to them that this is what it is considered consent and what is not consent and do your classmates understand that and we can start with you midshipmens craine. In that first month when you get to the academy its quite a blur but i do recall there eating a brief about what is consent. There was a video there but at the same time you are also not focused on those things because you were so busy with the task at hand but yes there is that initial brief. And that brief only occurs one time in the career of a cadet . No, that reef happens quite often. The update the midshipmen. I concur with midshipmen craine. We do learn about that during our base training and its just about i guess vloman tatian just like mr. Russell said. Cadets i dont think theyre necessarily understanding the severe rationality about what is actually occurring. Most cadets dont think its real and thats why we all mentioned that hearing from your peers and hearing real stories would be a lot of help. I actually had different experience. My basic was in 2012 and ms. Bullard was in 2013 but i dont remember anything from my basic training about Sexual Assault training. A remember running and a very impactful honor speech. I dont remember breathing on Sexual Assault so obviously wasnt impactful enough to carry with me through that period. I would concur as well. Im the oldest of the bunch. I entered in 2008. If there was a briefing i dont remember and or i wasnt focused to admit at the time that it had so many things to deal with. A followup question for the panel. Do you cadets understand the consequences of their actions and do they understand that they can be prosecuted under cmj and they would obviously be kicked out . To know that sounds like a very silly question but you are dealing with young men that may not understand because their command has not told them that this is not acceptable and for some reason they may not think they will be prosecuted. You think the academy that you attended did not properly communicate to your fellow cadets the consequences of such heinous actions . Midshipman craine. A were definitely told the consequences but like anyone you can be told the consequences but not understand what it is to go through the consequences of committing an act such as that. I think there might need to be a little more focus on what would happen to you if you were to do that to someone. If you dont mind if im being blunt. They understand the consequences and its just words but more of times the amount of its prosecuted, i mean you hear all the stories and it wasnt investigated right. The same should be a trend. If you look at our investigation and some of the stuff that some of the men have gotten away with , it causes a trend that shows people but thats okay and thats not right. Aq. Ms. Gross. I concur with what ms. Four seconds pacific way assaults were reported for 14 15 there were 14 reports and only a were finished by the editor ported there party there was one cadets discharge for Sexual Assault. My cadets was founded on assault and charge administrative leave for a nonrelated offense. Im not sure why but at that point maybe they do know what the punishment is that they see the statistics of discharge or very low. I will end with they did continue to get consequences that obviously the consequences were upheld. There is no threat in my opinion. Thank you. Thank you mr. Gallego. Mr. Mcsally you are now recognized for five minutes. Thank you mr. Chairman and thanks ladies for your courage to speak to us today and speak publicly. I went to the air force academy and graduated in 1988. These dynamics were going on when i was there and they are still going on now. I think there has at least been a greater emphasis or desire by the leadership to truly address these issues but some stories obviously there is still a whole lot more and they are still falling short. He talked a little bit about culture. I spent a lot of time thinking about the lord of the flies sort of culture that we have all experienced at the academy. Never thought i would be saying this on the congressional record but im just going to go for it. You have a 19yearold in total control of 18yearolds. 21yearolds, thought about later on when i was an officer. You would never have Airman First Class in total control 24 7 of an airman basic in the air force. You dont do that. We bring this up and focus on their skills and teach them how to survive and ultimately after several years we allow them individuals. As in all the services in the only difference between the 20yearold being responsible for directing 18yearolds around is because frankly your s. A. T. Scores were higher. The dynamic of having 20 and 21yearolds and possible for 18 and 19yearolds in the Leadership Laboratory you shouldnt be experimenting with human beings. My question is how much, talking about the chain of a man midshipman chain of command, to what you are dealing with is the upperclassman making decisions in how much are they real, the officers in the senior enlisted that are the ones that are in the air force that are actually the chain of command for ultimately responsible for this . I just want to be cleared to make sure i understand you have 20 and 21yearold midshipmen deciding what to do here and you have a Commanding Officer thats an Actual Office or . Talk to me about the balance of decisionmaking in this environment these days. Midshipmen craine. Egg and it depends on the company. I find i was in a very open company with an open door policy with a Company Officer. It was great. You are talking to the Actual Officer, right . You are not reporting to a twodegree or whatever you guys call them fair. They have represents in the company that say you can come and tell me anything about this case. They are trained to assist and give that person reinforcement by the end of the day after port to your Company Officer through the staffer officer in actual figures. In my case i reported, didnt report that i discussed it with my academic adviser. Not in my chain of command and she directed me to the right resources. Just to be clear nobody is reporting to another midshipmen are cadets who is deciding not to do something with this. I want to be clear who the decisionmakers are here. Midship and at least from my experience they did not make the report. They do not report for you. You report. They give you this resources but they did not decide. You in the update rest of you want to comment based on your experiences . Based on Sexual Harassment . There is no peer reporting that the peers out a lot of control over misconduct investigations so its reported by your peers and investigated completely by your peers and then you also have command regiment evaluation initiated by a peer. My reprisal is initially was by peers that they do have a lot of control. Its like an assault process in the hands of the officers and others but when you are dealing with the other dynamics the culture and potential retaliation there are a whole lot of peers. Thats something we need to pay a little bit more attention to. Ms. Gross i want to followup on this culture thing. We show up having full respect for men and women and their specific location that happens and i do want to follow up with you on your perspective and i dont have a lot of time or any double standards. People make fun of me but i talk about you need to have your haircut too. Right away you have resentment building and a mentor to him. We need more integration not more segregation because that resentment. As a cultural stuff that feeds into you are not my real teammate. Thats what we ultimately have to get to the bottom of here. Would you guys agree . Yes maam. Im out of time, thank you ladies. Ms. Rosen you are now recognized for five minutes. Thank you and i want to thank you for your bravery and coming forward and speaking so candidly about something so painful and so very wrong. He went to the service to serve our country with honor and respect and you certainly werent treated that way and im very sorry for that. What i want to ask is we have a lot of women in the military so in your experience in your school with their Women Leaders . Were their focus groups . Were their support groups . What were the Women Officers able to do for you and how can they help change this culture as we go forward . Maybe they are the strongest advocate is theyve been through this like representative mcsally can focus on now. From my experience at the Naval Academy there are many many good women were all models. Their officers seniors are listed in the then midshipmen. It is fantastic. I actually never experienced backlash for being a woman, never any double standards. There are always women breaking the barriers improving themselves and its really fantastic. How can the overwhelming support you younger women . I guess thats my question. What can they do or what can we all do . Just by being grateful models just interacting with the midshipmen on a daytoday basis for female midshipmen seeking out those goals and seeking out leadership roles, seeking out worlds in which they interact with midship and on a larger scale. Those really make an impact. You get more face time with someone whos in a position of authority and then you respect them. Ms. Bullard. I actually have a mentor. She was a stark and also a former ig. I got to a point where she supported us and supported us and i got to the point where we have so much retaliation that she feared for her job. She had a sneaking around to sticking to her office in order to see us. I would say there is support but theres also retaliation against them as well. Its throughout the ranks. Yes maam. Ms. Gross. I think its important to note that thats sark was a colonel and previously in the army. She was very confident with us initially and then was told that she was reprimanded for being close to us and counseling us and thats when she told us to sneak into her office of upper leadership wouldnt see for talking to us. She was later transferred out academy to a different position. We had many leaders that were my mentors and a parttime our time at the me when they retaliation increased and congress had begun to get involved in our case as we started to lose those or they were told not to speak with us. We were very active in trying to sip start a support group that west point. West point is not allowed support groups. They told us it wasnt allowed only one able to do it. We ended up with their own Informal Support Group like i mentioned previously and as i mentioned all four of us have since left the academy or being pushed out or discharged. From my experience i didnt really have many female officer mentors although i was surrounded by male officers at least in my companies but to know that a lot of the officers that her Company Officers went to themselves so they fell into the same culture that we are a part of in terms of trying to fit in with i call it a frat. Its 22 female see you are joined into this boys love for fraternity and you try to fit in and be one of the guys. On another note the only female officer that i did sort of know who is the Company Officer of a company nearby mine was actually accused of inappropriate Sexual Conduct with a male midshipmen. It looks like we have a long ways to go to bring this out of the shadows because thats where its been hiding and thats what allows perpetrators to the demise women like you and others like you and we need to bring them out of the shadows. They should be here talking about why they did the things that they did and letting the world see them on television. Thank you for your comments. I yield back. Mr. Kelly you are recognized for five minutes. Thank you mr. Chairman Ranking Member for having this very important meeting. I want to first of all to each of you im sorry for what you have had to endure and i thank you for your bravery and being here today. I want to make sure of that first and foremost. Secondly i want to talk a little bit, to me they are separate things and we shouldnt be having a hearing on separate things. Harassment and assaults are two Different Things. Harassment is a cultural thing. It is really bad but assaults is criminal and people need to go to jail. That more than anything else is a former District Attorney theres nothing i cant stand than a criminal act that someone gets away than to put them in the same category. Would have and the leaders as they were tracked so when you Start Talking about assault and you Start Talking about harassment in the same voice you want to talk about harassment and im not assault. Assault is a criminal act and they are always a criminal acts. I guess are you all aware of anything that tracks when an individual has Sexual Harassment but mostly Sexual Assault when the perpetrator, not the victim but when the perpetrator is put into the system, i understand innocent until Proven Guilty but you can mask duis in when someone is not adjudicated so you have a publicprivate record in and all those things. Are you all aware of anything that tracks these people who are accused accused because it that guy has been accused three times or two times or five times they are a predator. We need to know that even if its not drawn to the conclusion that once the acquisition is made. It is a are any of you aware of anything . Yes maam. That was one of the main reasons i was pressured to rep port might first case. When i sat down with the officer they told me it in my case was unfounded that was my main concern there was a lot of evidence in my case it happened previously even if i reported at least it would be in his files of it happened again there would be a pattern and that is what i was told. They cant track that. Minus the question. I think when its reported about to be in a private file that every other commander for the rest of the persons career sees pretty thats only one that ever happens i dont think there should be anything derogatory to that soldier but if there are three over fiveyear period from three different victims in regardless of whether, think the chain of command has a duty to know because you probably have a predator. It does seem to be a tracking system at least on the reports released in the previous reports if you look at the case. They have a section that asks if they had a previous offense reported against some . Im no that is working better now than it has in the past. I was at the air force academy last year for graduate to cadets for my district and one from somewhere else. We are talking about the day of graduation within the last two days was not allowed to graduate because of a complaint. That to me is progress. Thats where you can see that the person who perpetrated this sunday was not graduating. That things that just very briefly and i will start with you miss ms. Ken zhari. If you could do any one thing to make this better what would it the . When i was there in the past are now . If you are the person in charge of the entire deal with your secretary of defense and you can do one thing that might in fact that what would that be . I think creating an open environment, safe environment to talk about this, to have a place to go and discuss it that you wont be judged and it wont get out into the rumor mill. To me thats why held it in for so long before he came forward today did not feel like you had a safe place to talk about it. Ms. Gross. I think we need to institute a standard that support groups across the academy. Something that the regular army does but the academies on the pole today to believe while i was there because they didnt want to group together. The leadership can see systematically whats going on and i wouldnt feel like i was only one. Senate very quickly ms. Bullard and im going to skip you ms. Kline. And 2014 on investigation word downgraded to the basis of charge. My point is the leadership is not recorded as sexual. That would go back to my point. I dont think its being tracked im sorry but mr. Chairman if i can indulge. About any changes i would make . It would need to make sure that the squad leaders and the younger class and the people you see the most are trained. When i went through my case i didnt really think of the advisers in the company first. By the people that were closest to me that were in charge of me. Thank you mr. Chairman i yield back. Thank you mr. Kelly. You are now recognized for five minutes. Thank you very much. I want to thank each of you for sharing what happened in your life and i want to make it clear the action she described her disgraceful and unacceptable. I say that is a fivetime commander serving 30s and air force but also as a husband the father of a daughter, granddaughter three little girls we owe it to you to be better. With the academies we have to do three things in leadership. One make the policies clear what the standards are not respond when an incident does occur. A way to support victims when these things occur so we have to have a clear support that work and we have to hold people accountable. If i could look at all. Those things as a commander of a question for u. S. Commander we have a little bit of leeway. How do we prosecute when these things occur . Some folks accepted a little higher and some a little lower. I felt like we need to take more quick action i decided to courtmartial folks of the evidence was not as clear. Sometimes it was one persons word against another persons word. I wanted the victim to the need to speak in front of a jury to make their case and the person who was accused by their convictions went way up when this happened. I would love to have your feedback would you have felt comfortable to go to a Court Martial or a prosecutor that would have worked for you saying lets put this person front of a jury . I guess i dont understand your question fully. I think commanders have some leeway who to courtmartial present times its a little less clear attacked as a commander that i would courtmartial people more quick way and let the juries decide. What you think of that principle . Should we be more aggressive and courtmartial in leading the juries decide . I personally believe they should be taken out of the hands of the military to do this in general. Rape and Sexual Harassment are not exclusive to the military so why should the military be handling this when its an epidemic in our country at all colleges . In my opinion i dont think it should go to civilian court to handle these cases appropriately. Lets say for the record and her case we have a High Conviction rate for corepower sling people in leavenworth. Accountability does occur. Ms. Gross do you have a thought on this . I do. I think right now there is too much leeway within the institution. West point has many different sanctions they can impose and in my case they gave administrative sanctions is that a regular court. They have article xxxii and they can do regular judicial punishment. The academy and for that reason they were able to lower the to lower the numbers of us all. Its interesting if you look at the year that left 2014 15 there was only one case of substantiative Sexual Assault window substantiated cases of Sexual Harassment. My case is classified as Sexual Assault. I was only substantiated on the salsa maybe that leeway is a little too much. Thank you and ms. Bullard. This is a hard question. I say that because i think i would agree with ms. Cancer. In ms. Gross case in any case the head of the commander could done something. I found in my experience. Thats been my experience as a fivetime commander and i found when you start courtmartial in people people plead guilty so i just wanted to substantiate and back up your point. Finally if i could just make one point for ms. Kenzire. The fact that they were calling you a dub and plural dubs to the ladies. Do you see any efforts from a higher level of commander anywhere in the middle to correct back . No. Thank you very much and i yield back. Ms. Speier you are recognized. Thank you mr. Chairman. Let me just tell you how extraordinary you all are and how grateful we are that you are here to testify. I am troubled by a number of things that happens. With few ms. Kenzire you were raped twice at the academy and labeled as having a borderline personality disorder and taken out of the military produced that correct . Correct. It did not occur on Academy Grounds but it occurred at a teen house offcampus and one occurrence in the hotel on another current. They were both by midshipmen. Both of those midshipmen continued to their education . Correct and actually there wasnt an investigation on the first three that happened and he was still there when i reported and he was allowed to graduate. Ms. Gross you indicated that you were interrogated after the rape or Sexual Assault . The first rape. You were interrogated for 13 hours . Yes, maam. And then what happened . During that time cid had gotten better by my second assault. I am unique in the fact that i did not have for the first i did for the second side be able to see the change between the two. Have a net attorney played an integral role to make sure that didnt happen a second time. The first time i had 13 hour interviews i think twice. My commander came in after 11 30 at night is that i needed to go, class the morning i miss class all day. To make you had to come 13 hour investigations and we wonder why the dems dont want to report. If i remember correctly ms. Gross you had in the second assault, you had bruises on your neck and your upper torso area and there were photographs taken, correct . Yes maam. Were these photographs last . I was told there were certain photographs that were lost in the investigation yes maam and the blood alcohol level indication. So he was drunk and he sexually assaulted you. They were made aware of this and they chose not to get the blood alcohol or take your clothing as evidence . Yes maam. At the direction of the trial counsel at west point, the captain. What was the rationale for not doing that . Im not sure. A military Police Officer told me they received a call and ms. Bullard was with me. They said the trial counsel captain told them not to take it and i never found out why. My special victims attorney said he wasnt sure the academy have the right intentions for the second day since elk if i had an unfounded case i was no longer credible so that would be held against me. To have both of you and ms. Bullard even though you have gone through this injustice frankly you want to return to the academy and complete your education. Can you explain to us why . Maam, think first off it should be noted that i didnt want to leave in the first place. I wanted to stay if there was a change in the fact that i received from the general showed me that there wasnt anything to be done at that time. Immediately i had to go and yes i would say i would love to go back and stephanie and i are probably the best people to help create and help support this cause. I think arianna and i can agree. We admire the general greatly. We saw great leadership from him during our time there and leaves his intentions are true. They want to fix this problem. We recognize that he made mistakes as once said that the institution like we all do. Because of that i feel like i cant come to congress and talk to incite these problems and not fix the issue without testament about these issues. Or i can come back as a leader make a change. Thank you. I yield back. I want to thank all of you for your leadership and being willing to come here and educate us on problems that clearly exist and help us try and be part of the solution is best that we can. I admire your bravery through all of this. Truthfully the questions i would have asked have already been asked so i wont put you through it again. But thank you for stepping forward and being the cheerleaders that you are and brave souls and i appreciated. Thank you. Ms. Davis you are now recognized for five minutes. Thank you mr. Chairman and i certainly do have a lot of questions. Thank you so much to all of you for being here. I think if theres anything i take from this its that im glad that you can point to a few areas in which there has been some change but clearly not enough. I think that well have to be very cognizant of that. Im really more inclined to want to just go ahead and move on with the next panel because i hope that you all can stay at least for a few minutes because im sure interested in some of the reaction. There are a few things that i was glad to hear. The special victims counsel. I think generally i sense that is a good thing and we know that is also a model in some universities. We are pushing for more but im glad to hear. I would be very interested in knowing how we can progress even more to speed up up the best parts and get rid of some of the problems that might have occurred. The climate is also very important and you talk about retaliation. I would love to know more about how we have a zero retaliation environment and my sense has always been that whoever is in leadership sets the tone and we have got to change that. The fact that you could be in a sports environment and not have anybody getting you back. That in addition to the service mentality and its a family, the fact that you would not have your cosportsmen and women helping you out they werent sense enough to that tells me the leadership in that environment was such that thats where the changes have to be made. Then the question is how do we make that happen . Is that the training thats going on, not by the people involved that the leadership . How should that change . I will let you answer that and also the whole idea that anybody who has been leading a group of people recruits and cadets and those that had a case under their leadership that was not handled well, the leadership has always been something that i just dont understand. People should have a fair hearing but we also dont want people to advance number one who have been the perpetrator but number two who have been in leadership when that kind of crime is taking place. That is where i would hope that perhaps we can discuss a little more on the next panel but we have a minute and a half. With regards to the command climate ive never been called a dub. Ive never experienced anything like that at my time at the academy and when i took a hold of my case and had confidence and didnt hear anything about i received the most support. I would have to agree with you that it comes from leadership and in my resignation with the general i told him there needs to be new leadership and a culture and that was the problem. Head coach was a civilian he doesnt necessarily, he understands but doesnt necessarily understand the military very much in bringing that into a sport is hard. How do you establish a military environment but also play a sport. I think its a doubleedged sword and has ms. Kenzire said its like the guys are better than the girls. They are better than the girls and there are two separate teams and i dont understand how that is foreign army team. I have improvement but with my special victims attorney and i might than the only one who brings we have very limited power because they were subjected at the time. My attorney was only a few months into the canyon he was subjected to my chain of command leadership. He felt restricted because he could only do so much before its reported to his own leadership so that maybe may be something to look into. Im not sure if that is change. I go back to what i said earlier its important to train the leadership the faculty. I never received any conversations for my coaches reaching out to me about what it happened so that would be a good start in my opinion. Thank you all for your testimony today. Its very important. Ms. Speier. One question. Were you retaliated against . No. Yes. Yes. Yes. I want to thank the panel and the members of the panel for having the courage to step forward today. I think for some of you it is a question of bringing justice to your particular case and i think i virtue of you being here you will help countless others. I think everybody on this committee and the subcommittee is committed to make sure we do are a buzz to make sure that the climate in the culture of our Service Changes to where we dont expect a panel like this in the future so again i want to thank you so much for your testimony today and you are now dismissed. We are going to recess until after the vote. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversat foundationd. He event area lacks