Scenario: See No Evil, Speak No Evil
This scenario may contain explicit language and references to sexual situations, including sexual violence which may be emotionally activating for some people. If you need support, you can contact the Sexual Misconduct Support and Resource Centre (SMSRC) at 1-844-750-1648 (24/7/365) or have access to services for Canadian Armed Forces members and Defence Team employees.
Group Size: 4-15
Scenario
Sailor First Class (S1) Jim Brante is a technician on his first deployment on a Canadian submarine. He has been working doggedly on his on-job performance requirement (OJPR) to get his “Dolphin” (submarine) qualification. At the moment, the submarine is alongside in an allied port and the entire crew is attending an all-ranks function given by the host country’s senior non-commissioned members (NCMs). Great food and drink are freely available, and everybody is having a good time.
Well, almost everybody. As S1 Brante leaves the function room to visit the washroom, he hears a distressed woman’s voice. He searches for the source and finds an allied sailor, who identifies as a woman, struggling to free herself from a much larger man. S1 Brante announces his presence and to his total surprise, his coxswain turns to face him. This allows the sailor to escape, shouting in broken English on her way out, “Stupid Canadian!”
Neither S1 Brante nor the coxswain says anything. The coxswain exits, and S1 Brante continues to the washroom, quite shaken by what he has seen. Later that evening, the coxswain asks S1 Brante to step outside.
“Look,” he says. “I’ve noticed how hard you’ve been working on your sub qualification, but if you ever want to get your Dolphins, you should just forget that whole incident. It was a simple misunderstanding. Nothing happened and nothing is going to happen! Are we clear?”
The next day, unable to forget what he saw, S1 Brante approaches his supervisor, Petty Officer, 1st Class (PO 1) Sebastian, to discuss the incident. He is shocked when the PO 1 suddenly interrupts him. “Whoa, careful now Brante, you don’t want to go there. A submariner never backstabs another submariner. Make an issue out of this, and you undermine the morale of the whole crew. Besides, we’re leaving today, and you can just put this all behind you.”
Categories
- Principles: Respect the Dignity of all Persons, Serve Canada before Self, Obey and Respect Lawful Authority
- Values: Integrity, Loyalty, Courage
- Cultural themes: Service, Identity
- Misconduct types: Sexual Misconduct, Abuse of Power
- GBA Plus themes: Gender
- Audience: Canadian Armed Forces
Facilitator’s Guide
Learning Objectives
- Discuss how abuse of authority is at odds with respecting Department of National Defence (DND) Code of Value and Ethics.
- Discuss reporting possible Sexual Misconduct / sexual assault incidents while on deployments.
- *Note to facilitators: Please review DAOD 9500-1: Sexual Misconduct Response and discuss the “Duty to Report” as it applies to CAF members in relation to this scenario.
Facilitation Questions
- What is the problem in this scenario?
- Open group discussion.
- What are the facts? What are the assumptions?
- Open group discussion.
- What are some potential courses of action that could be taken in this scenario?
- Open group discussion.
- What considerations are at play here with respect to Defence Ethics and the military ethos?
- Open group discussion.
- Discuss “Respect the Dignity of all Persons”, “Serve Canada Before Self”, and “Obey and Support Lawful Authority.”
- Discuss loyalty, integrity, courage, and accountability in relation to this scenario.
- Discuss sexual misconduct/assault in deployment situations.
- What would you do if you were S1 Brante in this scenario? Why?
- S1 Brante could inform the Divisional Chain (the Navy’s Chain of Command) either directly or anonymously.
- Speak with trusted friend and mentors.
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