Two alleged cases of sexual misconduct involving military members from CFB Esquimalt have prompted the commander of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 Pacific fleet to warn personnel about their alcohol use.
B次元官网网址淭here were two incidents in a relatively short period of time and (Commodore Peter Ellis) had a town hall meeting in which he reminded people of their responsibility with respect to drinking responsibly and looking out for your buddies, and basically the rules and regulations that surround this kind of incident,B次元官网网址� said Lt.-Cmdr. Nathalie Garcia, public affairs officer for Maritime Forces Pacific.
All available fleet personnel were required to attend EllisB次元官网网址� town hall meeting, held on the baseB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址楢B次元官网网址� jetty on June 30. About 300 went, and since then Ellis has shared the same message with personnel from three other ships that were away at the time, Garcia said.
She would not comment on whether charges have been laid in the two incidents, alleged to have occurred in January and June 2011, and whether they involve allegations of sexual assault, if they happened on or off the military base or onboard a naval ship and whether alcohol is a factor.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 part of the investigation,B次元官网网址� Garcia said. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 want to skew the investigation (being conducted by the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service) by giving details about the incidents.B次元官网网址�
The commodoreB次元官网网址檚 town hall speech was not prompted by concerns there is an increase in sexual misconduct at the base, Garcia said.
Such incidents are considered rare, as reflected in personnel statistics compiled by the baseB次元官网网址檚 formation administration section, Garcia said. That office tracks and monitors personnel data on medical to administrative to legal matters, including sexual misconduct.
While alcohol consumption was addressed at the town hall meeting, the alleged misconduct cases have not prompted liquor restrictions at base messes or onboard ships, Garcia said, noting current regulations have been in place for several years.
B次元官网网址淲e havenB次元官网网址檛 had any kind of edict coming from the top saying we should change anything within our policy,B次元官网网址� she said, adding that ship and base messes are licensed just as civilian liquor establishments are.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e limited in the same way that any other bar would be limited,B次元官网网址� Garcia said.
There are, however, additional alcohol limitations for the fleet.
While at sea personnel are permitted to drink no more than two alcohol beverages per day, and no later than six hours before going on duty, said Garcia, adding there may be times when alcohol is not served onboard during certain missions.
emccracken@vicnews.com
