Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Guerrilla war on the Severn II: Electric Boogaloo

One thing you have to love is a reader with a crafty mind and good typing/OCS scanner. Go here for the background.

Letters.....oh yes, we have letters. I have very good reason to believe both letters below are ligit. I would easily put PalmPilot's next per diem check on it. I've x'd out most of the names, and this has been cleared by a lawyer for me to publish (ssshhh) and is part of the public record....if you can get it.

An important lesson: be careful who you pick a fight with.

May 11, 2006


Vice Admiral Rodney Rempt, USN
Superintendent
United States Naval Academy
Annapolis, MD 21412

Re: Double Standards at the United States Naval Academy

Dear Admiral Rempt:

I am writing to protest what is clearly an official recognition of gender-based double standards at the United States Naval Academy. As you know, I am pending charges for “sexual harassment” due to comments I made off-duty while on liberty to Midshipman Sxxxx Fxxxx. As you are also aware, Midn. Fxxxx did not believe she had been sexually harassed and did not intend to make such a report. The incident was blown out of proportion by LCDR Whisenhunt in a self-serving effort to punish me because of our significant and obvious disagreements concerning the safe operations of YP-686 during summer training last year.

While I am pending charges, I have learned that similarly off-color, wholly inappropriate remarks were made at the May 9, 2006 NAAA Spring Sports Wrap Up Dinner and Team Presentations held at Smoke Hall and attended by the Deputy Commandant of Midshipmen, Academic Dean, Dean of Admissions, Athletic Director, Team Officer Representatives, coaches, and midshipmen athletes of both genders. I report the following, which may be verified by questioning the attendees, some of whom were offended and reported their concerns about the obvious double standards to me and others.

ITEM 1:

A female midshipmen from the track team was being introduced by her female coach. She is a hammer thrower and the coach explained that the hammer is a steel ball suspended by a chain connected to a handle for throwing. The coach said the female midshipmen hammer thrower is a tough competitor and is known by the motto “Only real women can handle steel balls.”

This is obviously a sexually-motivated double entendre intended to refer to the male reproductive organs and the female hammer thrower’s strength and power. Some persons in the audience were embarrassed by the comment because it was so clearly inappropriate for an “official” ceremony. Most of the persons present were well-aware of the hypocrisy of sending me to a court-martial while the senior Naval Academy staff sat by and permitted such inappropriate commentary to take place in an officially sanctioned event.

ITEM 2:

A female midshipmen of the swimming team was summing up the undefeated season and directed the following to the athletic director, “Mr. Gxxxxx, we are still waiting for the steak dinner you promised the team if they went undefeated.” He chuckled and motioned for her to come closer so he could say something to her. The Master of Ceremonies then went to the podium and said something to the effect of “He meant to say tube steak.”

The slang reference to male genitalia was offensive, yet no prompt corrective action was taken at the time or thereafter for what was utterly offensive and equally inappropriate as anything I might have said in a private setting in mixed company. Failure to take appropriate action at the time was an apparent official sanction of the inappropriate comments and behavior. I am writing this letter to inform you, as a member of your command with a responsibility to do so pursuant to U.S. Navy Regulations, that I believe misconduct occurred and that your subordinates are engaging in hypocrisy and double standards with regard to handling female midshipmen. I cannot any longer remain mute because other officers now feel, like I do, that they cannot trust the Naval Academy chain of command to deal fairly and equally where female misconduct is involved and that any transgressions by males are handled disproportionately to the magnitude of the offense due to the politics and scrutiny you have been subjected to by outside sources. In addition, I am providing this letter to the Navy Inspector General, to ensure that my official complaint is a matter of record within the Department of the Navy.

Very Respectfully,

BRYAN BLACK
LT, USN

__________________________________________________________________
May 16, 2006

Vice Admiral Rodney Rempt, USN
Superintendent
United States Naval Academy
Annapolis, MD 21412

Re: Double Standards at the United States Naval Academy

Dear Admiral Rempt:

I am writing as a Naval Academy graduate with some considerable personal investment in the reputation of the United States Naval Academy. As a graduate and a former active duty military officer, I take seriously the Honor Concept and the importance of honor and integrity to the officer corps and the Naval service.

Imagine my surprise to learn that the Naval Academy has ignored flagrant violations of Naval Academy regulations and the Honor Concept in matters relating to the alleged rape of Midshipman *** by Midshipman Lamar Owens. Apparently, in testimony provided at the Article 32 hearing, a female midshipman varsity athlete who is “best friends” with Midshipman ***, Midshipman Betsy Burnett, admitted to repeated and serial violations of both State law and midshipman regulations by engaging in underage drinking alone and with Midshipman ***. Apparently, although Midshipman Burnett is not an alleged “victim” of any sexual assault or sexual harassment, her serial violations have gone unpunished.

What is much more serious from an Honor and integrity stand-point is Midshipman Burnett’s admission at the Owens Article 32 hearing that she lied to Midshipman *** by falsely telling her that Midshipman Owens had admitted to raping midshipman ***, a lie that Midshipman Burnett knew was false when she made it. Moreover, Midshipman Burnett apparently made a sworn statement to NCIS in which she repeated the lie, under oath to criminal investigators. At the Article 32 hearing, Midshipman Burnett admitted to these lies. I have checked with Academy sources and have determined that Midshipman Burnett has not been reported nor processed for an Honor violation despite these flagrant lies, including a lie under oath in a criminal investigation.

Whether the decision not to take disciplinary action against Ms. Burnett was made on account of her sex or her status as a star varsity athlete, the double standard is breathtakingly unacceptable and indicative of a complete absence of fair and unbiased leadership at the Naval Academy. I don’t know the name of the last male midshipman to be separated from the Naval Academy and forced to repay the cost of his $100,000 education by reason of an Honor violation, however, whoever that male midshipman is, I am certain that he did not engage in the serious and repeated lies, including those made to NCIS that affected their investigation, that Midshipman Burnett admitted to under oath at the Article 32 hearing in Midshipman Owens’ case. I fear that until there is a leadership change at my alma mater enlisting leaders who are committed to just and unbiased treatment of like offenders, the Naval Academy will continue to reap the negative headlines, inconsistent character in its graduates, and rampant criticism both by its alumni as well as the public.

I do not expect that you will take any action because of my letter. I long ago disabused myself of the notion that effective leaders were in charge at USNA, however, you need to know that there are a significant Alumni membership who are aware of the deficient leadership at the Naval Academy and find it unacceptable.

Charles W. Gittins

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