Not in My Coast Guard. No Retaliation Against Whistle Blowers or Victims of Sexual Harassment Who report It

The Coast Guard refuses to admit that CDR Benjamin Strickland became collateral damage in a routine sexual harassment case while acting as Commanding Officer of the USCGC MUNRO.
Is there a War Against Sexual Harassment in the Coast Guard or is there a War Against Officers who do their job?
This is all very puzzling.  The Coast Guard All Hands Blog, the Official Blog Of The Coast Guard Workforce has refused to publish a comment that I submitted on the subject fourty-five (45) days ago. It has been over a month and the official response is that the comment is pending review.  

http://allhands.coastguard.dodlive.mil/2015/05/18/retaliation-not-in-my-coast-guard/

 It was a short straight forward comment. All it said was:
CDR Benjamin Strickland reported a case of sexual assault that was reported to him as Acting Commanding Officer of the USCGC MUNRO and his career was over. He became collateral damage for doing his job. read the Full Story. See http://www.amazon.com/Benjamin-Strickland-Unre…/…/B011B9YLIK

Sexual Assault is a CRIME, not a punch line.

The Blog Post was written by RADM Peter Gautier, Director of Governmental and Public Affairs.

The COMMANDANT apparently had no problem posting the comment. It was posted at  https://www.dvidshub.net/video/397005/not-my-coast-guard?fb_action_ids=897827610287073&fb_action_types=og.comments#.Va51SvlG6u8

Retaliation: Not in my Coast Guard

Posted by LTJG Katie Braynard, Monday, May 18, 2015

Written by Rear Adm. Peter Gautier


This morning, Human Rights Watch released a report titled “Embattled: Retaliation Against Sexual Assault Survivors in the US Military.” The report contains findings based on Human Rights Watch’s independent research into retaliation against sexual assault victims and includes a number of recommendations to Congress and the military on ways we can better protect reporting victims. Many of these recommendations are either in the process of being implemented or considered by Congress, the Secretary of Defense, and the Coast Guard. The rest will certainly be reviewed.
In June 2014, the Commandant of the Coast Guard issued ALCOAST281/14: MILITARY WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION, a lawful order that prohibits retaliation. In it, retaliation against a military member is defined as one of the following actions taken because that member, either formally or informally, reported a criminal offense:
1. Taking or threatening to take an unfavorable or adverse personnel action, or withholding or threatening to withhold a favorable personnel action,
2. Ostracism, which is the exclusion from social acceptance, privilege, or friendship with the intent to discourage that individual from reporting a criminal offense or otherwise discourage the due administration of justice, or
3. Maltreatment, which is treatment by peers or by other persons, that, when viewed objectively under all the circumstances, is abusive or otherwise unwarranted, unjustified, and unnecessary for any lawful purpose that is done with the intent to discourage reporting of a criminal offense or otherwise discourage the due administration of justice and that results in physical or mental harm or suffering, or reasonably could have caused physical or mental harm or suffering. Maltreatment does not require a senior-subordinate relationship as is required for maltreatment under Article 93, UCMJ.
Retaliation against reporting victims of sexual assault is a barrier to transforming our culture. It is also contrary to our duty to people – retaliation has very real impacts on the personal well-being of a victim and can damage an otherwise promising military career. If you are a victim of retaliation or witness to it, you should immediately report this behavior to the Coast Guard Investigative Service.
The Coast Guard applauds Human Rights Watch for bringing attention to the concerted effort the Coast Guard and the rest of the military services have made to drive sexual assault and the behaviors that enable it from our ranks. We also thank them for validating the importance of addressing retaliation against reporting victims of sexual assault. Retaliation negatively impacts individuals and the units they serve in. Furthermore, cultures inhospitable to sexual assault must also be inhospitable to retaliation.
It is always worth reinforcing that sexual assault is a crime that undermines the core values of our service. We have an enduring leadership commitment at every level to protect our people and to preserve the confidence of our members and the American people. The United States Coast Guard is committed to building and maintaining an environment inhospitable to sexual assault and the behaviors that enable it – like hazing and harassing which create an environment which devalues certain members of the service.
Rear Adm. Peter Gautier
U.S. Coast Guard
Director, Governmental and Public Affairs
- See more at: http://allhands.coastguard.dodlive.mil/2015/05/18/retaliation-not-in-my-coast-guard/#sthash.nSiIhXe3.xwF1Af5h.dpuf

Retaliation: Not in my Coast Guard

Posted by LTJG Katie Braynard, Monday, May 18, 2015

Written by Rear Adm. Peter Gautier


This morning, Human Rights Watch released a report titled “Embattled: Retaliation Against Sexual Assault Survivors in the US Military.” The report contains findings based on Human Rights Watch’s independent research into retaliation against sexual assault victims and includes a number of recommendations to Congress and the military on ways we can better protect reporting victims. Many of these recommendations are either in the process of being implemented or considered by Congress, the Secretary of Defense, and the Coast Guard. The rest will certainly be reviewed.
In June 2014, the Commandant of the Coast Guard issued ALCOAST281/14: MILITARY WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION, a lawful order that prohibits retaliation. In it, retaliation against a military member is defined as one of the following actions taken because that member, either formally or informally, reported a criminal offense:
1. Taking or threatening to take an unfavorable or adverse personnel action, or withholding or threatening to withhold a favorable personnel action,
2. Ostracism, which is the exclusion from social acceptance, privilege, or friendship with the intent to discourage that individual from reporting a criminal offense or otherwise discourage the due administration of justice, or
3. Maltreatment, which is treatment by peers or by other persons, that, when viewed objectively under all the circumstances, is abusive or otherwise unwarranted, unjustified, and unnecessary for any lawful purpose that is done with the intent to discourage reporting of a criminal offense or otherwise discourage the due administration of justice and that results in physical or mental harm or suffering, or reasonably could have caused physical or mental harm or suffering. Maltreatment does not require a senior-subordinate relationship as is required for maltreatment under Article 93, UCMJ.
Retaliation against reporting victims of sexual assault is a barrier to transforming our culture. It is also contrary to our duty to people – retaliation has very real impacts on the personal well-being of a victim and can damage an otherwise promising military career. If you are a victim of retaliation or witness to it, you should immediately report this behavior to the Coast Guard Investigative Service.
The Coast Guard applauds Human Rights Watch for bringing attention to the concerted effort the Coast Guard and the rest of the military services have made to drive sexual assault and the behaviors that enable it from our ranks. We also thank them for validating the importance of addressing retaliation against reporting victims of sexual assault. Retaliation negatively impacts individuals and the units they serve in. Furthermore, cultures inhospitable to sexual assault must also be inhospitable to retaliation.
It is always worth reinforcing that sexual assault is a crime that undermines the core values of our service. We have an enduring leadership commitment at every level to protect our people and to preserve the confidence of our members and the American people. The United States Coast Guard is committed to building and maintaining an environment inhospitable to sexual assault and the behaviors that enable it – like hazing and harassing which create an environment which devalues certain members of the service.
Rear Adm. Peter Gautier
U.S. Coast Guard
Director, Governmental and Public Affairs
- See more at: http://allhands.coastguard.dodlive.mil/2015/05/18/retaliation-not-in-my-coast-guard/#sthash.nSiIhXe3.xwF1Af5h.dpuf

The case For CDR Benjamin Strickland

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_F._Strickland_II

Benjamin F. Strickland II

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Benjamin F. Strickland II
Born	November 20, 1972 (age 42) Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Coast Guard  United States Navy
Years of service	1991–1995
Rank	Commander
Commands held	USCGC Roanoke Island (WPB-1346)
Battles/wars	Operation Southern Watch Global War on Terrorism Operation Enduring Freedom Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Awards	Cutterman Insignia Surface warfare insignia Merchant Marine Reserve Insignia Command at Sea insignia Coast Guard Commendation Medal Navy Commendation Medal Coast Guard Achievement Medal Navy Achievement Medal
Spouse(s)	Candice Lynn Osgood
Other work	National Security Specialist at Maritime Administration

Benjamin F. Strickland II, is a retired U.S. Coast Guard Commander (CDR) and whistleblower advocate who alleged illegal retaliation from his Coast Guard Pacific Area chain-of-command in violation of the Military Whistleblower Protection Act in response to his lawfully protected communications.^[1]
On May 23, 2013 CDR Strickland was serving as Acting Commanding Officer onboard USCGC Munro (WHEC-724) homeported in Kodiak, Alaska when he made an unrestricted reported regarding a sexual assault alleged to have been committed upon a MUNRO crewmember. CDR Strickland reported the sexual assault allegations immediately to his immediate superior in Command, then VADM Paul Zukunft and requested an investigation by the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS), participated as a witness in the investigations which stemmed from his report, and later expressed his belief of waste, abuse of authority and gross mismanagement by CGIS and senior Coast Guard management officials. After his whistleblowing activity and complaint that CGIS was abusing it's authority and not properly investigating the sexual assault, CDR Strickland became the target of the very investigations which stemmed from his report and was subsequently subjected to multiple acts of retaliation. CDR Strickland was removed from his primary duties, received a derogatory Officer Evaluation Report (OER), and placed in a billet not commensurate with his paygrade as a senior officer.^[2] CDR Strickland subsequently filed a whistleblower retaliation complaint with the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (OIG) which was accepted for investigation.^[3]

Contents

• 1 Early life and education
• 2 Career
  • 2.1 U.S. Navy
  • 2.2 U.S. Coast Guard
  • 2.3 U.S. Maritime Administration
• 3 Awards and decorations
• 4 References

Early life and education

CDR Strickland was born in 1972 and is a native of Seattle, Washington. He graduated from Maine Maritime Academy in 1995 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Nautical Science. He attended the U.S. Naval War College in 2009 graduating with a Masters of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies.^[4]He is a graduate of the Maritime Advanced Warfighting School (MAWS) and is a qualified Joint Operational Planner.^[5]

Career

U.S. Navy

Having enlisted in the United States Navy Reserve in 1992, upon graduation from Maine Maritime Academy in 1995 CDR Strickland was honorably discharged to accept a commission as an Ensign and went on to serve three years active duty in the regular Navy. His initial assignment at sea was in USS Hopper (DDG-70) at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii where he completed initial warfare qualifications while serving as Electronic Warfare Officer, and later First Lieutenant.

U.S. Coast Guard

In 1998, CDR Strickland transferred to the Coast Guard where he was assigned to Marine Safety Office Puget Sound in Seattle, Washington. There he qualified as a Senior Marine Inspector, enforcing US and International maritime regulations and safety standards for foreign and domestic vessels. He also served as the unit Special Interest Vessel (SIV) Officer, supervising the tracking and reporting of high-interest shipping for national intelligence agencies. In 2000 he returned to sea duty as Weapons Officer in USCGC Sherman (WHEC-720) at Alameda, California, completing patrols in the Bering Sea and Eastern Pacific. SHERMAN also deployed to the Arabian Gulf, serving as Surface Action Group (SAG) Commander for Middle East Force 01-1 and Maritime Interdiction Operations Coordinator (XJ) for the HARRY S. TRUMAN Battlegroup. In theatre as a Tactical Action Officer (TAO), CDR Strickland coordinated maritime enforcement of UN sanctions against Iraq and air surveillance operations in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. Upon OUTCHOP from FIFTH Fleet, SHERMAN transited home to Alameda via circumnavigation of the world.
In 2002, CDR Strickland was assigned as Coast Guard Liaison Officer at Afloat Training Group Pacific Northwest in Everett, Washington. There he qualified as an Afloat Training Specialist, managing the training, assessment and certification for three different classes of cutters as the Pacific Area Commander’s direct representative. From 2004 to 2006, he served as Operations Officer in USCGC Midgett (WHEC-726) at Seattle, Washington, coordinating Homeland Security, Search and Rescue, Fisheries and Counter-Drug missions throughout the Pacific in support of Operations NOBLE EAGLE, ARCTIC SAFEGUARD, BERING SHIELD and CAPER FOCUS. CDR Strickland commanded USCGC Roanoke Island (WPB-1346) (WPB-1346) at Homer, Alaska from 2006 to 2008^[6] before attending the College of Command and Staff and Maritime Advanced Warfighting School at Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. CDR Strickland then performed a three month operational warfare assignment comprising contingency, adaptive and collaborative planning in the development of a formal Concept Plan (CONPLAN) for U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
From 2009 to 2011, he was assigned as a Strategic Planner in the Office of Defense Operations (CG-532) at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, DC where he executed responsibility for Coast Guard input into National Defense strategy documents, plans and policy, coordination of service chief-level staff talks, resourcing of Joint Staff global force management requests, and also served as the Desk Officer for all U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command issues. CDR Strickland returned to sea as Operations Officer in USCGC Stratton (WMSL-752) at Alameda, California from July 2011 to June 2012 before assuming duties as Executive Officer in USCGC Munro (WHEC-724)) in July 2012.^[7] In 2014 he was reassigned to Coast Guard Headquarters as the Support Division Chief in the Office of Counterterrorism and Defense Operations (CG-ODO-3). He retired from active duty in 2015.^[8]

U.S. Maritime Administration

In July 2015, CDR Strickland accepted a position at the Maritime Administration as a National Security Specialist.

Awards and decorations

  References

1. 
   

http://https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Whistleblower_Protection_Act Military Whistleblower Protection Act]

8. "CDR B. F. Strickland II, USCG (retired)". United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 14 July 2014.

Category:1972 births Category:Living people Category:Naval War College alumni Category:People from Seattle, Washington

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Myers, Meghann. http://www.navytimes.com/story/military/2015/02/27/coast-guard-sexual-assault-cgis-investigation-firing/23166307/ "Sacked cutter XO says he was target of endless inquest"], Navy Times, Springfield VA, 27 February 2015. Retrieved on 13 July 2015.

DHS OIG Complaint #C1405822

"USNWC-19-June-2009-Graduaiton" (PDF). U.S. Naval War College. Retrieved 14 July 2014.

"MAWS-19-June-2009". U.S. Naval War College. Retrieved 14 July 2014.

"Roanoke Island's command changes". Homer News. Retrieved 14 July 2014.

"Logisticians Support Joint International Treaty Enforcement". United States Navy. Retrieved 14 July 2014.

I'm Mad As Hell!! And, I'm not going to take it any longer. This is BIG! This is historical. This is a Case of First Impression. Maybe this is not the first time something like this has happened in the Coast Guard; but, this is the first time it has been thoroughly documented. This Case and this Book are the result of hundreds of man-hours of research, eye witness interviews, and analysis. The actual players in this tragedy were painstakingly interviewed and interviewed again. The facts were checked and re-checked. The facts are absolutely accurate and indisputable. The Time Line is accurate right down to the day, the minute and hour.
Two people can understand and analyze the same facts and come to different conclusions. We are all different in some ways. We are what we were then and when and where our characters and personalities were shaped; BUT, we cannot dispute the FACTS.
You are entitled to your own opinion, but you are not entitled to your own facts. The Facts are absolute. They are black or white; they cannot be a dirty shade of grey. Not one shade , nor fifty shades of grey.
This is a piece of living history. What price can you put on History? We are living in History, at a pivotal moment in history. Owning this book, is like taking a "selfie" in the Flow Of Living History. Imagine being able to capture yourself at The March on Washington, The Collapse of the Berlin Wall, at The WTC on 9/11, or some other historic event that took on epic proportions as time went by.
How would you be able to describe it to your children and get the facts right? How else would you be able to set the stage and get the passions and the emotions just right to explain and to understand what was happening in the country and the world at this crucial time in our history?
This Book captures it. It hits the nail right on the head. It nails it dead center. There has never been a Ben Strickland in the Coast Guard Officer Corps, and there will never be again. What happened here will probably never again be repeated, partially because it was recorded and exposed. Just like the first time a Coast Guard Academy cadet was court-martialed (Cadet Webster Smith). It too will never happen again. The book about that case exposed the fallacy, and the stupidity, and the utter futility of it.
The Case of CDR Benjamin Strickland will go down in history as being one of a kind, unique. The story will be told again and again. Rumors will abound. People will embellish. But, if you have the book, you have the facts, the Truth, the piece of living History. It is eternal. It will live in infamy. How can you put a price on that?
http://www.amazon.com/The-Case-CDR-Benjamin-St…/…/1514682737