To: The Leaders of the Extended Brigade

This message is being shared with members of the Foundation Board of Directors and Alumni Association Board of Trustees & with all Class, Chapter and Parent Club Presidents (and respective corresponding secretaries).

Today the Defense Task Force on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the nation's military service academies formally released its findings and recommendations. VADM Rodney P. Rempt, USN, the 59th Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy, has asked that you read his letter that follows. Please give this message the widest possible distribution. Thank you in advance for acting as informed advocates for the Naval Academy in the communities in which you live and serve.

George P. Watt, Jr. USNA '73

President and CEO

USNA Alumni Association & Foundation

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Alumni, Parents and Friends of the Naval Academy - At the U.S. Naval Academy, our mission is to develop midshipmen morally, mentally and physically to become combat leaders of the highest character to lead Sailors and Marines.

With this in mind, we endeavor to develop a professional culture at the Academy that fosters dignity and respect among midshipmen, while also encouraging personal responsibility and accountability. Our approach closely parallels the Fleet and Marine Corps. We expect our midshipmen to live and uphold the highest standards, just as they will be expected to do so as officers in the Navy and Marine Corps.

The standard we set is very clear: we do not tolerate sexual harassment, misconduct and assault. Our goal is to prevent these unacceptable behaviors from ever occurring by comprehensive education, sensitivity training and the consistent enforcement of standards. This includes preventing and discouraging fraternization, which breaks down natural distinctions in rank and can lead to sexual harassment, misconduct or assault especially in the unique military environment that exists in Bancroft Hall.

Off-color jokes, sexual innuendo and other disrespectful actions tear at the very fabric of unit cohesion and teamwork. If allowed to persist, the command climate can quickly erode into one that is coercive and hostile instead of one that is inclusive and cohesive. We work to educate all hands about expectations and implement standards through easily understood procedures. When necessary, we enforce our standards and hold individuals accountable through counseling, remedial measures and/or punishment. In order to make these standards real, our leadership, including military and civilian faculty, staff and upper-class midshipmen, are expected to set the example by personally meeting our high standards and by demonstrating professionalism both on and off duty.

Towards this end, we welcome review of our programs, and the sharing of information we can use to improve our efforts to prevent and deter sexual harassment, misconduct and assault. In the past two years, the Naval Academy has briefed several groups, including the Defense Task Force on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the Military Service Academies, about our prevention, deterrence and response programs. We encouraged our midshipmen, staff and faculty to be open and honest with these groups so that we have the benefit of a thorough assessment of our efforts to date, and can gain their expert advice in shaping our programs to better meet our goal of zero incidents of sexual harassment, misconduct and assault.

This afternoon, the Defense Task Force on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the Military Service released their report. We applaud the findings and recommendations, which you can find online at http://www.dtic.mil/dtfs/. The Defense Task Force's comprehensive review and insightful recommendations will help us improve our efforts to prevent and deter sexual harassment, misconduct and assault. The report addresses several areas including:

- Improving the culture at the Service Academies. Teaching our midshipmen to be inclusive of all -- regardless of race, gender or background -- to value diversity and to develop teamwork with their shipmates. Our survey trends suggest things are improving, but we still have some work to do to improve how our young men and women treat each other in the Brigade.

- Providing expanded confidentiality to ensure privacy and encourage reporting of incidents. We are encouraged to see that more and more of our midshipmen are confronting harassment and coming forward to seek counseling or care.

- The need for trained leaders and counselors as well as adequate resources for required programs. We have already hired a specially trained counselor in the Midshipman Development Center and are sending more officers, senior enlisted and midshipmen to training.

- Victims' Rights and Support. Keeping our focus on providing immediate care and support to the victim. We have ongoing refresher training to the midshipmen and faculty/staff on specific procedures and care available.

- Formalizing awareness training and education in our curriculum including testing and grading.

- Clearer legal procedures to get at the facts in criminal cases so we can both protect the rights of the accused and hold perpetrators accountable.

- Formalizing relationships with the civilian community for victim support, which we completed during the summer with seven such organizations in the local community.

With the benefit of the Defense Task Force's recommendations, we continue to provide the best possible education for our midshipmen and are striving to establish a climate at USNA which discourages sexual harassment, misconduct and assault, as well as encourages reporting when incidents occur. We want to fully support victims and deal with allegations fairly and appropriately. The very idea that any member of the Naval Academy family could be part of an environment that fosters sexual harassment, misconduct, or even assault is of great concern to our leadership in the Yard, and is contrary to all we are trying to do and achieve. Preventing and deterring this unacceptable behavior is a leadership issue that I expect every one associated with the Naval Academy will take to heart.

The public trusts that the Service Academies will adhere to the highest standards and that we will serve as beacons that exemplify character, dignity and respect. I need your help to ensure we measure up to that trust and that our message gets out to our Alumni and parents.

Thank you for your continued support of our dedicated midshipmen.

VADM Rodney P. Rempt, USN

Superintendent