Military Hazing: DOD Should Address Data Reporting Deficiencies, Training Limitations, and Personnel Shortfalls

According to DOD’s Harassment Prevention Strategy, incidents of harassment—including hazing— jeopardize combat readiness and weaken trust within the ranks. DOD established a harassment prevention and response program that includes hazing to address these behaviors.

This report provided complete hazing complaint data to Congress;  assessed service member harassment prevention and response training for compliance, sufficiency, and effectiveness and reinforced training; and provided MEO professionals with required certification training.

The GAO is making 12 recommendations to DOD, to assist in improving data quality in its reports, assess and reinforce service member training, and fill vacant MEO professional billets.