Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2017 U.S. Army Drill Sergeants' Response to Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault of Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Recruits Marin Vesselinov Nikolov Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Public Administration Commons, and the Public Policy Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Walden University College of Social and Behavioral Sciences This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Marin Nikolov has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Benedict DeDominicis, Committee Chairperson, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Dr. Gary Kelsey, Committee Member, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Dr. John Walker, University Reviewer, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Chief Academic Officer Eric Riedel, Ph.D. Walden University 2017 Abstract U.S. Army Drill Sergeants’ Response to Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault of Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Recruits by Marin Nikolov MS, University of Phoenix, 2013 BS, Old Dominion University, 2009 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy and Administration Walden University May 2017 Abstract Even with the repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy, the U.S. Army has seen increased cases of sexual harassment; sexual assault; and discrimination of gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) service members by other service members. Despite this trend, few studies have explored the experiences of victims of sexual harassment and sexual assault of GLB recruits before, during, and after the repeal of the DADT policy. Using the bystander effect as the theoretical construct, the purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the experiences and interactions with a sample of 11 drill sergeants (DSs) who witnessed GLB discrimination in order to gain insight on strategies to prevent sexual harassment and discrimination against GLB recruits. Interview data were inductively coded and subjected to a thematic analysis procedure. Key findings indicate that participants perceived a general support for GLB inclusion into the basic combat training environment, and participants were unaware of the high number of discharges of service members from the U.S. Army during the implementation of the DADT policy. Another important finding is that participants were supportive of GLB scenario-based training. Finally, the bystander effect was found to be the main reason participants failed to intervene when instances of discriminatory or abusive behavior was observed. Implications for positive social change can be realized in the U.S. Army through promoting awareness of GLB discrimination, its impact, and how DSs can lead the effort in preventing this sort of behavior against the GLB recruits. A key recommendation is for the U.S. Army to explore implementing scenario-based training for all recruits as part of this effort. U.S. Army Drill Sergeants’ Response to Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault of Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Recruits by Marin Nikolov Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy and Administration Walden University May 2017 Acknowledgments I wish to thank faculty member Dr. Dedominicis, who is well-versed on issues of U.S. military studies and, in particular, the implications of gender and racial integration within the armed forces. He shared with me his vast knowledge of research tools and strategies. I would also like to thank Dr. Kelsey for his expert guidance in methodology with qualitative studies and his support throughout my dissertation process. His invaluable insight allowed me to navigate a process which would have been more difficult to complete had he not acted as my second committee member. Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ....................................................................................1 Background ....................................................................................................................3 The Adoption of DADT ........................................................................................ 11 Repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell........................................................................... 14 Discrimination....................................................................................................... 17 Problem Statement .......................................................................................................24 Research Questions ......................................................................................................30 Theoretical Framework ................................................................................................30 Nature of the Study ......................................................................................................33 Definitions....................................................................................................................36 Assumptions .................................................................................................................41 Limitations ...................................................................................................................42 Significance..................................................................................................................42 Summary ......................................................................................................................45 Chapter 2: Literature Review .............................................................................................47 Literature Search Strategy............................................................................................48 The Drill Sergeant ........................................................................................................49 The Drill Sergeant Creed: ..................................................................................... 49 Selection ................................................................................................................ 50 Drill Sergeants and Platoon Sergeants .........................................................................52 Army Regulations 350-16 and 614-200 .......................................................................53 i Organizing Gender and Sexuality Within the Ranks ...................................................54 Executive Order .................................................................................................... 55 Desexualization of the U.S. Military .................................................................... 57 Gay Warfighter ..................................................................................................... 58 Tolerance............................................................................................................... 59 Sexual Identity ...................................................................................................... 66 Coming Out ........................................................................................................... 68 Predator ................................................................................................................. 75 U.S. Military Culture ...................................................................................................77 Policy...........................................................................................................................81 Psychiatric Screening ............................................................................................ 83 Army Regulation 635-200-Homosexuality ........................................................... 85 Army Regulation 600-200 .................................................................................... 87 Reporting............................................................................................................... 87 Title 10—654 ........................................................................................................ 89 Separation ....................................................................................................................90 Honorable .............................................................................................................. 91 General Discharge ................................................................................................. 91 Under Other Than Honorable Conditions ............................................................. 92 Leading to the Repeal ..................................................................................................92 Compatibility ........................................................................................................ 93 Unit Effectiveness ................................................................................................. 94 ii Family