A report presented to lawmakers in Montpelier on Tuesday broke down the numbers for FY2014, in which there were three cases of sexual assault and seven cases of harassment reported in the state’s National Guard.
There were six sexual assaults and three cases of harassment the previous year.
Vermont’s numbers are in stark contrast to those in the rest of the country. In May, the U.S. Department of Defense said that sexual assault reports increased by half, to a total of 5,061, in FY2013.
“Sexual assault, sexual harassment and sexual discrimination of any kind have no place in the Vermont National Guard,” Maj. Gen. Steven Cray told lawmakers Tuesday.
The hearing, presented to members of Senate Government Operations and House General, Housing and Military Affairs Committees, focused on an annual report about sexual assault and harassment cases in the Vermont Guard, which was mandated under a 2013 law.
In addition to presenting data on sexual assault and abuse cases in FY2014, the 29-page report details the Guard’s approach to changing “locker room” culture and preventing sexual harassment and assault.
Spreading awareness remains one of the largest tasks ahead for the National Guard.
“Some of the individuals don’t believe it’s happening in our organization,” Cray said. “Even though we have a report that says we have instances, it still needs to be talked about.”
The Guard has implemented multi-pronged efforts to try to implement prevention from the policy level down to the individual level. Those efforts include training sessions and screenings of films such as “The Bro Code” and “The Invisible War.”
Lt. Angela Lakey, the Guard’s Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, briefed lawmakers on the three assault cases in FY2014. Two cases were restricted, meaning victims had access to medical and counseling services, but the incidents did not trigger an investigation and the case cannot be reported to civilian law enforcement.
Last year’s single unrestricted case was reported to civilian law enforcement, but once it was determined not to be a civilian criminal matter, the case was referred back to the National Guard and was handled as a sexual harassment case.
The members of the team took questions from lawmakers on what penalties a Guard member faces if found guilty of assault. In addition to facing criminal charges, they will likely receive a “less than honorable discharge,” which, Col. Ellen Abbott told lawmakers, will have lasting impacts on the benefits the individual receives, and could impact employment in public and private sectors.
The report outlines the statistics of the seven sexual harassment cases, all of which were filed by women with complaints against men. Also detailed is the Guard’s approach to combating discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Rep. Jean O’Sullivan, D-Burlington, who sponsored the bill that mandated the annual report, applauded the Guard’s effort.
“Everything they’re doing is above and beyond anything we asked, because this is what they want to do,” O’Sullivan said.
Vermont is a leader in the country in its handling of sexual assault and harassment cases in the armed services, she said, and she is impressed with how the members of the National Guard are approaching the issues.
“What they’re doing, is they’re digging in, and you can hear it, they’re changing an entire culture,” O’Sullivan said.
The annual report and legislative hearing as mandated under a 2013 law is effective, and O’Sullivan says no statutory changes are necessary at this time.
“It’s really important 10 years from now that this still happens,” O’Sullivan said.
