Substantiated SH investigations

MARADMINS 622/24.

. . . This Marine Administrative Message (MARADMIN)  announces critical updates to formal sexual harassment (SH) complaints regarding Investigating Officers (IO), mandatory initiation of administrative separation for all formal substantiated SH complaints, and the implementation of the Behavioral Intervention and Professional Reset Program (BIPR). 

2. Background. Per policy change on Sexual Harassment within the Military, reference (a) now requires independent, trained investigators for all formal SH complaints and mandatory initiation of involuntary separation processing for all formal substantiated SH  complaints. The Department of the Navy’s (DON) goal is to reform how allegations of SH are investigated and how the DON holds offenders accountable, including revising the administrative separation process for substantiated SH complaints committed by Sailors and Marines.  

a.  Pursuant to reference (b), “The term ‘sexual harassment’ means conduct that constitutes the offense of SH as punishable under [Article 134] pursuant to the regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense.” To be considered SH under Article 134, a complaint must include an accusation that the accused knowingly made sexual advances, demands, or requests for sexual favors, or knowingly engaged in other conduct of a sexual nature, and that such conduct was unwelcome. 
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