Coast Guard Accountability and Transparency Review (ATR) Final Report

FORWARDED ON BEHALF OF THE COMMANDANT AND MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER OF THE COAST GUARD TO COAST GUARD MILITARY RETIREES

To our Coast Guard Workforce:   

Today (12/6/2023) we publicly released the Accountability and Transparency Review (ATR) final report, as well as my directed actions in response to the ATR findings.  These documents can be found here.     

The ATR team analyzed current law, policy, processes, practices, resources, and Service culture relevant to preventing and responding to sexual assault and harassment as well as other harmful behaviors in the Coast Guard.  The team visited Coast Guard units around the country to listen to members of our workforce about their experiences and engaged with the other Services and several organizations with shared values and goals.  The team also examined previous studies dating from 1990 to the present, including the Culture of Respect report, which is available here.     

We are incredibly proud of our workforce and our culture that values honor, respect, and devotion to duty.  In some places in our Coast Guard, however, there is currently a disconnect between the workplace experience we talk about, and the experiences our people are actually having.  Any disconnect between the core values we revere and the actual experience of each member of our workforce harms our people, erodes trust, and undermines our readiness to execute our missions.   

Acknowledging broken trust within the Service is an important first step in reestablishing it.  I have directed 33 initial actions with specific timelines to ensure every member of our workforce has an experience aligned to our core values and free from harassment, assault, hazing, bullying, hate, or retaliation. These actions span the following lines of effort:   

• Improvements to workforce training, culture, and professional development;   
• Creation of an Integrated Primary Prevention Program modeled after the Department of Defense program;   
• Incorporating our core values more thoroughly into enterprise communications, training, and evaluations;     
• Implementation of policies to ensure accountability related to sexual assault, sexual harassment, and other harmful behaviors;     
• Increased accountability and oversight at the Coast Guard Academy; and   
• Improved transparency and access to workforce climate data and resources.   

These actions are only the first steps of our enduring commitment to improve accountability and transparency across our Service.  I also commit to you that the Coast Guard will ask for the Congressional support and resources necessary to drive the change we need.       

We each must ensure EVERY Coast Guard workplace has a climate that deters harmful behaviors and gives everyone the positive Coast Guard experience they expect and deserve.  Thank you for your commitment to our nation, and your commitment to each other.     

Yours in service,    

ADM Linda Fagan             Master Chief Heath Jones   

Commandant                     MCPOCG