THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 23, 1994 TAG: 9412230487
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JACK DORSEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
Eighteen enlisted crew members were punished this week for their involvement in unrelated hazing incidents aboard two Norfolk-based ships, the oilers Merrimack and Monongahela.
Six sailors aboard the Merrimack received nonjudicial punishment for an assault that sent one of two victims to the hospital for four days with deep bruises on his leg, the Navy said. The other victim required one day's bed rest.
The victims apparently were punched in a type of initiation ceremony sometimes associated with a promotion, according to one source.
Eight sailors aboard the Monongahela were punished and four others warned for their part in an assault-related hazing incident involving a junior enlisted man from their ship.
The victim, who apparently was paddled, did not require medical treatment.
Both incidents occurred during the same month the Navy launched an investigation into a female recruit's complaint that she was kicked and beaten with broom handles at an Orlando, Fla., boot camp 2 1/2 years ago.
Navy investigators are expected to finish their probe of that case soon.
The Navy has said since June that it will not tolerate hazing among its members.
``The policy of zero tolerance is clear,'' said a message to all Atlantic Fleet Surface Force units. ``Each officer and sailor must understand that they are personally responsible for obeying and enforcing Navy police on hazing.''
Hazing is described as any behavior that causes or has potential to cause an individual or group to be embarrassed, humiliated or injured, the Navy said.
The latest incidents occurred this month, according to the Navy.
The six sailors aboard the Merrimack each received 45 days' restriction, 45 days' extra duty, forfeiture of one-half month pay for two months and reduction in rate, or a pending promotion was withheld.
All told, 10 crew members, ranging from seaman recruit to petty officer second class, appeared at captain's mast aboard the Merrimack.
Four of the 10 members, although not participants in the incident, received ``administrative warnings'' because they knew of the incident but did not report it to their supervisors as required.
Disciplinary action against one sailor, now on unauthorized leave, is pending.
Aboard the Monongahela, sailors ranging in rate from seaman recruit to petty officer third class received the same punishments as did those from the other ship, except that their reductions in rate were suspended.
An investigation continues aboard both ships to determine whether other crew members were involved, the Navy said.
In the unsolved case involving the woman recruit, the Navy said it did not officially learn of the incident until Nov. 30.
The woman serves at the Portsmouth Naval Medical Center, where she is awaiting a discharge for a medical disability that may be linked to the beating.
Details about the incident surfaced when the woman told a corpsman at the Portsmouth hospital that she was suffering from an equilibrium disorder that may have been brought on by the beating. The corpsman notified the command. by CNB