How To Start a Sexual Harassment Complaint

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How to Start a Sexual Harassment Complaint with the Department of Defense The first step to filing a sexual harassment complaint with the Department of Defense is to be sure a problem exists and not just an issue of anger. Once a valid issue has been established the person needs to approach their chain of command. Informing the chain of command is a necessity; chain of command must be given the opportunity to address the problem first. In the event chain of command fails to address the issue, the issue may be brought to the attention of the Inspector General. The IG can only provide a recommendation to the command, not a resolution. Only the command can institute a resolution. Submitting a complaint can be confusing and a trial of patients. A complaint may be filed to any Inspector General at any level including the IG Department of Defense. However, procedure encourages IG’s to resolve complaints at the lowest level commander who can fix the problem and submit the complaint to that commanders IG. In the event the commander is part of the issue, then the complaint should be submitted to the IG of the next higher commander. A good place to start the inquiry would be with the local installation IG. The local IG can provide guidance and determine if the complaint needs to be expedited to a higher level IG or placed in another grievance channel to be resolved. When filing a complaint, factual and relevant information pertaining to the issue must be factual. This information is submitted by using a DA Form 1559. Inspector General Action. This form can be bypassed if the form is not available by preparing a letter or fax to the appropriate IG. Complaints must be signed, legible, and reproducible. The letter should include rank/grade, name, organization assigned, home and duty address, phone number, and Social Security Number (Department of Defense, 2012).

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