Navy Faults Leadership in Incomplete Hazing Probe

[MH1]

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/01/13/us/AP-US-Gays-Military-Hazing.html?_r=1

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- Leaders should have done more to investigate numerous hazing allegations against a gay sailor and others in a unit stationed in Bahrain several years ago, the Navy said Wednesday.

The Chief of Naval Operations has sent a letter of counseling to retired Vice Adm. Robert T. Conway, the former Commander, Naval Installations Command, who was the final endorser of a June 2007 investigation that has been criticized for failing to be thorough.

The letter notes that ''more should have been done to determine what officers in the chain of command knew about allegations of hazing and what actions they took to address those allegations,'' said Navy spokeswoman Cmdr. Elissa Smith.

In October, the Navy announced that the former leader of the bomb-sniffing dog unit would be removed and forced to retire after the Navy reviewed allegations of hazing and sexual harassment against the gay sailor and others.

...

Rep. Joe Sestak, a Pennsylvania Democrat and retired three-star admiral, has pressed the Navy to explore lapses in accountability in the case. Sestak, who demanded to know why Toussaint was later promoted to senior chief after the reports, applauded the decision to expand the investigation.

''Only with the display of real accountability will the men and women serving believe in their leadership,'' Sestak said in a statement.

Sestak has some credibility to deal with the Navy on this, being a retired admiral and all. And for those who are interested, he's fairly progressive on LGBT issues: http://joesestak.com/LGBT.html .

[Captain Hilts]

1. NAVY Times has been all over this. nt