Nine former cadets from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy have come forward to accuse the academy’s leadership of negligence in addressing and preventing sexual violence on campus, including allegations of cover-ups. These accusations, filed on Wednesday, follow similar claims made by 13 other former cadets who demanded $10 million each in damages just over a month ago.
Many of the latest plaintiffs, who have chosen to remain anonymous, reached out to legal representation after seeing reports regarding the initial claims against the Coast Guard, its governing agency, the Department of Homeland Security, and previously the Department of Transportation, according to attorney Christine Dunn.
Dunn expressed her belief that these 22 individuals, consisting of 20 women and 2 men, represent just the beginning, stating, “I am certain that these 22 are just the tip of the iceberg. I know that sexual assault has been taking place for decades at the Coast Guard Academy and that there are many survivors out there.” She indicated her hope that more survivors would step forward, emphasizing the importance of raising a collective voice: “I want a whole army of survivors,” she asserted, advocating for broader recognition of their experiences.
The allegations detailed in the complaints date back to incidents as far as the 1980s, extending to 2017. Previous cadets recounted experiences of being assaulted in their living quarters, facilitated by a policy that forbade students from locking their doors. One individual shared the trauma of falling asleep in a tightly cinched sleeping bag, driven by fear of nocturnal assault.
“The Coast Guard negligently created, condoned, and actively concealed the rampant nature of sexual harassment and assault at the Academy, knowingly placing me and other cadets in danger,” claimed one of the new accusers.
Another former cadet reflected on the serious effects of her trauma, having experienced sexual assaults from both a classmate and an officer. She later struggled with depression and PTSD, stemming from Military Sexual Trauma, and now receives partial disability benefits. Her time at the academy significantly impacted her career and personal relationships, which she described as being “ruined” by her experiences.
The Coast Guard Academy had not provided a comment on the recent filings before press time. However, in a statement shared in September, officials noted that federal legislation restricts them from discussing ongoing complaints and highlighted their commitment to allocating substantial resources for victim support, prevention measures, and accountability.
The complaints arose following the disclosure of a previously concealed investigation, known as Operation Fouled Anchor, which examined the handling of sexual assault and harassment cases within the academy. This probe uncovered mismanagement of numerous incidents involving cadets from 1990 to 2006, including instances where offenders were shielded from prosecution.
The information revealed led to widespread demands for reform and accountability for both the criminals and those who shielded them. Multiple government and congressional inquiries are currently examining the academy’s handling of such serious allegations, along with broader issues in the military.
Coast Guard officials maintain that they are dedicated to transforming the academy’s culture and the overall service in light of the findings from the Operation Fouled Anchor investigation.
Following Wednesday’s filing, the process for filing a lawsuit against the federal government begins. This includes an administrative complaint, for which the accused agency has up to six months to investigate. Depending on the outcome, the agency may choose to settle or deny the claim, after which, if necessary, the plaintiff may proceed to file a federal lawsuit.