Service members' attitudes toward reporting hazing incidents
Abstract: Introduction: Addressing hazing within the U.S. Military has become a critical concern to safeguard the well-being of service members; recent attempts to assess hazing prevalence in the military have been unsuccessful due to under representative data. Methods: To delve into the hazing climate and reporting culture at Fort Bragg, now Fort Liberty, 227 individuals took part in an anonymous online survey. The survey collected demographics and insights on hazing attitudes and behaviors, perceptions of group experiences including hazing/non-hazing activities, views on leadership, familiarity and experiences with reporting procedures, and bystander intervention. Results: The findings echoed existing literature: while only 17.2% admitted to experiencing hazing, a striking 70.3% acknowledged involvement in specific hazing behaviors. Only 40% of participants who acknowledged experiencing hazing (n = 35) disclosed that they reported or confided in someone about the incident. Responses highlight reporting hurdles including concerns about anonymity, confidence in the reporting process, leadership reactions to reports, and the normalization of these events as tradition. Discussion: Distinct elements of military culture, such as the hierarchical chain of command, loyalty to the brotherhood/sisterhood, and the emphasis on resilience, likely amplify these responses. This study adds to the mounting evidence showcasing gaps in assessing hazing within the U.S. Military. It emphasizes the necessity for a comprehensive hazing prevention program. Presently, prevention relies on mandatory training, often integrated into safety briefings or harassment workshops. However, service members require further assistance in recognizing, rejecting, and reporting instances of hazing despite these trainings.