Navy Disciplines 3 for Improper Conduct Toward Female Sailors

Three male sailors have been disciplined after an investigation into allegations by female sailors that they were sexually harassed by male instructors at the Naval Training Center in San Diego, the Navy announced Monday.

Capt. John Ensch, commander of the training center, said the investigation found “no evidence of sexual favors for course grades” but did find improper conduct between the ranks and between the sexes.

One sailor, a chief petty officer, was demoted and fined a month’s pay for fraternization and adultery because of a consensual relationship. Adultery is an infraction under the Unified Code of Military Justice if seen as prejudicial to good order and discipline. Fraternization is socializing between officers and subordinates.

Two other sailors were given warnings and counseling: a petty officer for not reporting improper conduct on the part of others and a fireman for burning a woman sailor’s hair during classroom “horseplay.”

None of the three sailors whose punishment was announced Monday were found guilty of sexual harassment, a serious offense that can lead to dishonorable discharge.

More sailors may face punishment, Navy officials said. Some involved in alleged incidents had been transferred to other bases before the investigation began but will be returned to the Naval Training Center if enough evidence exists for punishment.

The alleged verbal harassment involved 16 women who were being trained to operate the Navy’s computer and telephone network between March, 1993, and September of this year. Most of the 16 women were fresh from boot camp and receiving their first technical training before deployment.

The sailor punished for adultery was also restricted to base for 45 days and given a verbal reprimand.

Sexual harassment has been a major issue in the Navy since the scandal involving the Tailhook Assn. convention in Las Vegas in 1991, at which dozens of women were allegedly assaulted by Navy and Marine Corps aviators.