全球智库信息集成服务系统

When Integrated into an Overall Feedback System, the Survey Results Will Give Leadership a More Complete Picture of "Ground Truth" and Point Toward Corrective Actions.

• A survey system can augment but should not substitute for direct interaction and monitoring by leadership and by support professionals.
• Spikes in selected abuse and misconduct survey items should prompt follow-up discussions with trainees and MTIs to learn more.
• Anonymous or confidential surveys can provide information that is not available through current formal reporting channels, including barriers to reporting that may exist, so that command can address the issue.
• A comparison between the survey results and known incidents can reveal how many individuals do not feel comfortable coming forward to make a report.

The Surveys Should Be Anonymous or Confidential to the Greatest Extent Possible.

• Previous problems were able to escape undetected and escalate in part because individuals were afraid to come forward and directly report problems.
• Anonymity provides actual protection and the perception of protection to encourage participation and honest responses.
• An identifiable survey would be redundant with existing reporting channels.
• The survey system's value will be undermined if participants are required to enter any identifying information to access the survey; if the survey is administered by members in the chain of command or anyone being evaluated on the surveys; or if commanders, law enforcement, or legal staff attempt to discern a participant's identity.

In response to several high-profile incidents of sexual misconduct by military training instructors (MTIs) during Basic Military Training (BMT), in 2012 the U.S. Air Force's Air Education and Training Command (AETC) asked RAND Project AIR FORCE to develop an integrated survey system to help address abuse and misconduct toward trainees in the BMT environment. Based on an extensive review of relevant materials — including internal AETC investigations of these incidents, Air Force and Department of Defense policies, and the scientific literature — RAND developed two complementary surveys, one for trainees and one for MTIs. The trainee survey assesses trainee experiences and related reporting behaviors for the following abuse and misconduct categories: trainee bullying, maltreatment and maltraining, unprofessional relationships, sexual harassment, and unwanted sexual experiences. The survey also measures individual perceptions of the squadron climate and BMT feedback and support systems. The MTI survey assesses the extent to which MTIs were aware of trainees experiencing abuse, as well as their perceptions of the related squadron climate and MTI reporting behaviors. The MTI survey also includes a section on MTI quality of life, including job attitudes, the work environment, and job stressors. An Integrated Survey System for Addressing Abuse and Misconduct toward Air Force Trainees During Basic Military Training concludes with recommendations about survey administration, reporting the results, and additional areas for improvement to better track and monitor actual instances of and the potential for abuse and misconduct.

• Chapter One

  Introduction

• Chapter Two

  The BMT Trainee Survey

• Chapter Three

  The MTI Survey

• Chapter Four

  Survey Participation and Administration

• Chapter Five

  Reporting Results and Taking Action

• Chapter Six

  Conclusion and Additional Recommendations for BMT

• Appendix A

  Methodological Details on the Development of the Survey Content

• Appendix B

  BMT Trainee Survey: Abuse and Misconduct

• Appendix C

  MTI Survey: Quality of Life and Training Abuse and Misconduct

• Appendix D

  Sample Page from Reporting Template for Trainee Survey

• Appendix E

  Proposed Core Content for an MTI Survey Recruitment Letter

• Appendix F

  Developing an Integrated Feedback System for Addressing Abuse and Misconduct