Report sexual misconduct. The Defense Advisory Committee is tasked with bringing recommendations to the secretary of defense. And the Armed Services committee of congress. This is an hour and a half. Before we continue with our next panel, i would like miss gar vin to have the mike for a moment. During the break i had the opportunity to speak further with hannah. Who spoke to us before. And asked about her service dog that she had with her. And i apologize for not thinking to ask her while she was there. She authorized me to share. How much the service dog has aided in her recovery. And how important the dog is. And she authorized he to share she paid for the dog out of the pocket. And didnt have access to that as part of her recovery. And any formal way. And so i thought it was important for us to know that piece of information in light of how much it helped in her recovery. Thank you. Okay. Woer now going to begin with the briefing of on the department of defense of military services expedited transfer. Policy. We have quite the distinguished panel. The only person is miss mas si. Missing from our printed agenda. Have you determined how youre going to start . Ill juts start briefly here and probably go on down the row. Is that okay with folks . You have the mic. Greetings. Its nice to be here sdp see you again. Thank you for talking about expedited transfer. We are to give you a little bit of context for how expedited transfer came up in about 2011, the Sexual AssaultPrevention Response Program had been was about four or five years old. And actually about six years old. And we had had lots of conversations we had fielded the cad ray of Sexual Assault response coordinators and to the field. We created a response system. But what we were finding is there were still significant gaps in what we could do to support victims as they went through the military justice process as well as the recovery process. So one of the things that kind of sparked additional focus on this problem was a secretary. And he went and had a conversation with a number of members of congress in the fall of 2011. And he asked what else could we do to push the program forward. What could we do to make a real difference. One of the first things that we were able to do was to create expedited transfer. We had heard that folks were coming forward. Making reports of Sexual Assault, but as you heard previously some of them were not able to move from a unit or get away from the individual that had sexually assaulted them. And from a clinical psychological standpoint i would tell you that the continued retramatization of having to be exposed to that person or people that impacted you in that horrific way prevents you from healing. It retards your healing process. When you are continue retraumatized. With this expedited transfer process we might be able to jump start. Or give people a chance. We as we we were having conversations with not only victims but also members on the mill they thought this was an important piece as well. We all came to the conclusion that this would be a helpful approach. So with me today is my senior policy advisor. Shes going to give you a little bit more of the details to the process. I want to say thank you so much for taking a look at this. We think of this as a one of the things thats really been help hflful for healing. And has evolved a bit over time since we have kicked it off in 2012. Thank you for inviting us to speak. I have been with the office. Keep your voice. Get the microphone closer. I dont project as well. I have been with the office since 2009. So i was responsible for putting together crafting the first expedited transfer guide. And so i will detail the history. Provide just some dates to what doctor already covered and get into a bit of detail of the policy. The first guidance was issued may 6. By the then under secretary stanly. The services were required to issue him guidance with following three criteria. There was a presumption of transferring a victim if there was a credible report. Ensure it wouldnt negatively impact the victims career. And authorizing an appeal to the first General Officer in the chain. First expedited transfer request was denied. Each military service by may 31 of 2011. There was a lot of congressional interest. There was a lot of discussion between the department and the hill. So kwently in addition to policies, crafted a dod wide policy. And this was issued on december 16, and later incorporated into perp innocent dod instruction. Updated march 2013. Congress passed its own version of mandate on the december 31, in for fy 2012. In that mandate it included 72 hour time frame. For making that decision onto approve or disapprove the expedited transfer and 72 hour appeal process. In january 18 a month after, the was issued and the news briefing at the pentagon. Secretary announced a transfer policy. He stated it would provide greater support for the victims of Sexual Assault. Giving protection from possible harassment and removing them from the proximity of the alleged perpetrator. In the this time they added transfer law by authorizing the transfer of the suspect. This was covered already in the so we didnt have to alter the policy. Let me turn to detailed policy. The intent behind the policy is not for safety. Its for situation where a victim feels safe and feels uncomfortable. So where the victim is in close proximity to the alleged perpetrator. This proceeding or wants to leave the location where the event occurred to stop triggering horrible memories. Victims are informed at the time they file the report. It is the victims choice and has to be initiated by a Service Member. Once submitted to the commander the commander has to take the time and date. He has 72 hours to respond. This the policy does establish presumption in favor of transferring the Service Member following credible report. And that credible report determination is made by the commander. With the advice. And the military criminal investigation. When reviewing all the evidence thats available at the time. If theres no credible report found the reasons for that decision must be documented. There is a misconception as to the presumption. The presumption is in favor of the transfer. Its not in favor of the exact location of the transfer. So the transfer could be permanent or temporary detail so the victim can recover. It could be outside the installation or outside the installation. A different duty location. There are a lot of allowed tonight shift instead of day shift. The suspect can be transferred instead of the victim. Also the necessity of the operational needs. If approved the transfer order shall include the Service Members dependent if accompanied. The military spouse. In most circumstances the transfer to a different installation should be complete within 30 days. It should be completed within a week. Again we say should because there are different details and circumstances that go along. Especially the dependent or military spouse. We mention already that the commander must act within 72 hours. If the commander disapproves that expedited transfer, it is the victims choice its not automatic its the choice whether to appeal. The victim wants to appeal that then the first flag or General Office has 72 hours to approve or disa prove. Military departments are required to make every reasonable effort to minimize disruption to normal career progression of Service Members. When authorized a transfer a commander has a enumerated list to review. I believe you have a hand out. Wtd list. I want to point out three of the criteria that has to be reviewed. One of them is whether a temporary transfer would need the Service Members need. And the operational needs of the unit. The availability of positions. Within other units on the installation. And the status of the investigation and potential impact in the investigation. And future disposition of the offense. After consultation with the investigating mcio. Service members requesting a transfer should be advised if the case is determined it should go to Court Marshall they may have to return for the proceeding. Also in that hand out number one, four additional areas of which Service Members have to be informed. One that i want to highlight is a potential impact of the transfer or reassignment on the investigation and case disposition or the initiation of other adverse action against the offender. Now, when the victim is transferred out, theres a warm hand off to the receiving commander. If the victim is still receiving Advocacy Services and the investigation or Legal Proceedings are ongoing. Now the reason why this is done is to facility the investigation. And to facility Additional Services for the victim. The losing commander with limit the status of the open investigation and the status of ongoing Legal Proceedings. Hand out number two that you have speaks to the commanders responsibility in the monthly Case Management group. For every adult Sexual Assault case that is on restricted report theres a group meeting. During that meeting, they review all Victim Services and also discuss direct system coordination. All parties come together including advocate ts, healthcare, investigators, law enforcement. Legal officer. And they have a discussion about the case. They discuss any challenges being experienced. Discuss any allegations of retaliation not only against the victim or Victim Advocate or responders. Or any other members to the case. They discuss expedited transfer, military protective orders, and any safety issues. Now the conducting the case are the original location have to call into the monthly meeting at the new location. As the legal officers. They provide updates on the progress or challenges with the investigation to the installation commander. In effort to facility any investigation issues. The case will stay on the agenda until all investigations Legal Proceedings are complete. And the victim has declined further services. In conclusion the ex3e dieted transfer program is a service favorably contributes to victims lives and recovery. Its difficult for victims to come forward. As the last survivor who spoke to us told us. This is always extremely challenging. Its amazing that people ever come forward and tell us such a horrific event that happened in their lives. It has been mandated by congress on two separate occasions. It has congressional interest and support. The Service Provide support for victims of Sexual Assault by protecting them from possible harassment and removing them from proximity to the perpetrator thank you. I look forward to addressing questions you may have. Well hold questions until the end of the everybody speaks. Thank you. Good afternoon. Im paul rosen. The director of navy Sexual Assault prevention and response branch. I have been in the role since 2013. As a civilian and prior to that in uniform. Im not going to be due licktive of what shea said. Ill talk about specifically about the importance to navy of the expedited transfer policy and progress. In addition to it being right thing. Its important for navy or sailor that suffered trama to get them both personally and professionally well. And so they can continue their career and continue to contribute to the service which hopefully they love. That we need them to do. We have found that the reasons that sailors request expedited transfer as indicated moving away from the subject of the report. We find people who request an expedited transfer to move closer to support infrastructure. Whether that be family or friends. And in some cases for specific support services depending where they were prior. Maybe worldwide somewhere and need to move somewhere nor Additional Support services. Policy has been in place for several yores as you were heard. We completed a review of our process to try to make sure its as good as it can be. And theres probably some minor peeks and tweaks well make to that. One specific policy piece in navy that is a little bit different is that in the request process if the request by the victim to make an expedited transfer is not approved by the Commanding Officer with the navy it automatically goes to the first flag officer. It doesnt require the victim to make another request. And theres the 72 hour time period for which that first flag officer then ultimately makes the decision to turn it down or approve it. So again without being due pliktive. I want to thank you again for inviting us to discuss this. And look forward to questions you have. Miss reed. Good afternoon. Im gail reed. I work at headquarters Sexual Assault prevention and response. One of the program and policy specialist. I have been with the Program Since 2011. I was on board when the policies were stood up and the marine core took on the the task of implementing the process. And have been supporting it since ta time. When the marine core looked at implementing the process it was important to us to keep the victims needs in mind, as well as to make sure it was a seemless process for the marine core transfers. We wanted them the marine getting a transfer to flow back into the normal process and not stand out anymore than necessary. So we took it upon yourself ourselves to work with the manpower management. And together we built a process where headquarters marine court serves as the lie ya son. The work with the victims who submit their request through and its all worked out autotheir location. It comes to the headquarters staff. We walk downstairs and hand the paper work to the manpower. And that in just flows right into our regular transfer process. There are only certain people in the manpower management that work those expedited transfers. So again were doing our utmost to ensure the victim is not pointed out or registered within their world. So that when the transfer happens it just looks on the record as a transfer. That was important to us. We have been very successful, we just went through another review of the the processes and released a new letter of instruction. We have included expedited transfer process in the precommand training with the commanders. To they are getting from headquarters what they is to look like. And rules and responsibilities whether they are receiving a victim. Or whether they are losing a victim. Because theres things they need know on both sides of the equation. So again i believe its been a successful process, our starks are very supportive at the fleet level. And we have support at the Headquarters Level. Ill be more than happy to answer questions. Thank you for the opportunity. Colonel prince. Good afternoon. I am the chief of the interpersonal selfdirected violence. Isdv. Within we are it is responsible for the strategic tr five types of violence. One being sexual violence. In the branch we have the air force Sexual Assault prevention and response office. So i have been with the program for all of three months officially. Although i have been engaged with the air force office for about a year. So again i wont ill try not to be repetitive. But our expedited transfer program has policy process and procedure that are codified primarily at the air force personal center assignment office. The air force Sexual Assault prevention and response and the air force Family Advocacy program. Three areas where we have regulation. Sdp the expedited transfer process is designed to meet the needs of the victim. Following an unrestricted report. Of a Sexual Assault while balancing Mission Requirements as a assessed by the chain of command. Additionally as part of a comprehensive and system based response capability for Sexual Assault vilkts and survivors, other agencies play a Critical Role in the execution of the expedited transfer program as it relates to victim advocacy. To inclut but not limited to physical and medical healthcare. Rigorous investigation from the office of special investigation, accountability by the military justice process. Facilitied by the judge core. A legal agency, and Mission Effectiveness and continuity from command leadership structure. Which is aided by counsel from a majority of the response agencies that i have listed. So very much systems based approach. The result is an expedited transfer program that has vertical and horizonal checks and balances to the air force office assesses the expedited transfer Program Using feed back. Survivor story and record reviews to improve the process. The air force focussed on insuring we have the ability to transition victims to locations where the victim feels safe and supported and continue the healing process. So transfers are by moou moving to a new location where in one of the assault. A recent improvement ensures the commander as you have heard and the sark are aware of the arrival of the airmen. And again based on feed back and review that we have done, this we ensure confidentiality is maintained. It awareness and ability to react appropriately in the event of victim requires Additional Services are support after arrival. So this policy change was published this month. Through the air force is committed to the smooth and orderly expedition of policy for both victims and alleged offenders. We support Victim Recovery by accessing as one of several options to facility an environment conducive for care and recovery. We