Panel assesses AFA changes/ Victim advocates call discarding

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Jul 12, 2003 | by PAM ZUBECK

Past and current Air Force Academy leaders told a congressional oversight panel Friday they're confident the Air Force can reverse a culture that spawned allegations of sexual assault during the past decade.

But victim advocates testified a new policy that abandons confidential reporting will discourage women from coming forward.

The four-hour hearing at Colorado Springs City Hall was the second in the congressional panel's mission to assign blame for claims the academy dismissed rape reports and to suggest ways to fix the problem. The panel, which first met June 23 in Washington, D.C., isdue to submit a report Sept. 22.

Chairwoman Tillie Fowler, a former GOP House member from Florida, said Friday's hearing might be the last.

Members will meet twice in coming weeks to discuss testimony and privately hear findings from the Air Force inspector general, whose investigation into how cases were handled won't be done until year's end.

Among the thorniest issues: victim confidentiality, consistency of leadership and restoring cadet trust in commanders.

"What we hear from the cadets right now is, 'We don't trust the system because in the past it hasn't worked,' " Fowler said, noting the panel talked with victims Thursday.

Former Superintendent Lt. Gen. John Dallager, Commandant of Cadets Brig. Gen. Taco Gilbert and Training Group Commander Col. Sue Slavec said they back mandates to change the system imposed by Air Force Secretary James Roche and Chief of Staff Gen. John Jumper.

Dubbed the "Agenda for Change," it requires all allegations of assault be reported to commanders and investigators, which is Air Force procedure. The change was made in May.

A five-month Air Force investigation, finished in June, concluded the confidential reporting system prevented commanders and investigators from knowing about assaults - amajor obstacle to dealing with the issue.

But several panel members expressed doubt Friday that a system that wipes out confidentiality could work. They said they hope new leaders will work with victims advocates to come up with a compromise.

Committee member John Ripley, a Naval Academy graduate and former president of Southern Virginia College, asked how much confidence Dallager, Gilbert and Slavec have that the system will work properly.

Dallager called it "a tremendous challenge" to balance mandatory reporting with victim assistance.

Michael Nardotti, a retired Army major general and the former Army judge advocate general, suggested the victim remain anonymous for a few weeks as evidence is gathered and counseling provided. A criminal case would begin "later when the victim is better prepared emotionally to deal with the process," he said.

Victim advocate Alma Guzman said confidentiality is key to a successful program.

"We didn't just wake up one morning and say . . . we'll keep the command segregated and not tell them anything," she said. "We wrote it for one reason: because that's what the victims wanted."

As for regaining cadets' trust, Superintendent Lt. Gen. John Rosa Jr. said it will be an evolutionary process.

"It takes time and communication," he said.

After a committee member noted the Air Force investigation found that two- and threeyear leadership cycles allowed programs to falter, Rosa said Pentagon officials have considered lengthening terms to five to seven years.

Although the panel is supposed to find someone to blame, one member seemed reluctant.

"It's pretty easy to be critical of leadership over past years," Nardotti said. "But I think the reality of this is it's extraordinarily difficult and complex. It appears the leadership has wrestled with this over time.

"That doesn't fix it for the victims who suffered through this, but a wealth of experience will lay the foundation for going forward."

On hand at the hearing but not testifying were several victims, with Chicago attorney Joseph Madonia, who is considering a lawsuit against the Air Force.