SEXUAL   HARASSMENT Sexual  harassment  is  not  an  amusing  or trivial   issue.   It   negatively   affects   the   morale and   productivity   of   service   members   as   well as  team  building  and  mission  accomplishment. It  may  also  be  a  violation  of  any  number  of articles of the  Uniform  Code  of  Military  Justice (fig.  5-l). Sexual harassment is defined as (1) influenc- ing;   offering   to   influence;   or   threatening   the career, pay, or job of another person in exchange for  sexual  favors;  or  (2)  deliberate  or  repeated offensive comments, gestures, or physical contact of  a  sexual  nature  in  a  work  or  work-related environment.  Sexual  advances,  requests  for  sexual favors,  and  other  verbal  or  physical  conduct  of a  sexual  nature  constitute  sexual  harassment  under the  following  circumstances: 1. 2. 3. When submission to such conduct is made either  explicitly  or  implicitly  a  term  or condition  of  a  person’s  job,  pay,  or  career When  submission  to  or  rejection  of  such conduct by a person is used as a basis for career  or  employment  decisions  affecting this person When  such  conduct  has  the  purpose  or effect  of  interfering  with  a  person’s  per- formance   or   creating   an   intimidating, hostile,  or  offensive  environment Personnel,  male  or  female,  who  use  implicit or  explicit  sexual  behavior  to  control,  influence, or   affect   the   career,   promotion   opportunities, duty   assignments,   or   pay   of   any   other   Navy member are also engaging in sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is, therefore, the embarrass- ment, intimidation, or exploitation of one person by   another   through   sex-related   comments   or behavior. The  Navy’s  long  tradition  of  military  pro- fessionalism results from its positive, aggressive leadership  and  its  history  of  taking  care  of  all Navy  members.  Commanders,  supervisors,  and subordinates are all responsible for providing an environment  free  from  sexual  harassment. The Department of the Navy expects all of its personnel to support its policy of sexual harass- ment prevention. This not only includes refrain- ing  from  practicing  such  behavior  but  actively countering and promptly reporting such actions. SEXUAL  RESPONSIBILITY The  Navy  does  not  require  its  personnel  to abstain  totally  from  sexual  relations.  However, it does strive to instruct all Navy members on the importance   of   sexual   responsibility   and   the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases. Syphilis,   gonorrhea,   genital   herpes,   and Acquired  Immune  Deficiency  Syndrome  (AIDS) are  all  sexually  transmitted  diseases.  They  are normally  spread  through  sexual  contact.  AIDS can  also  be  spread  through  contaminated  blood or   by   shared   hypodermic   needles.   Sexually transmitted   diseases   are   not   spread   through inanimate  objects  such  as  toilet  seats,  door  knobs, or eating utensils. The  most  serious  of  these  diseases  is  AIDS. The  AIDS  virus  attacks  the  body’s  immune system. This results in the body’s inability to fight infection. Military   persons   must   receive   live   virus vaccines to protect them from certain illnesses and from possible exposure to serious infections when deployed outside the United States. These vaccines may  be  life-threatening  to  an  infected  person whose  immune  system  has  been  damaged  by AIDS. At  the  present  time  no  cure  is  known  for AIDS.  More  than  70  percent  of  all  AIDS  cases prove  fatal  within  2  years  of  diagnosis. As  a  Navy  leader,  you  should  be  aware  of these  sexually  transmitted  diseases  and  the methods for reducing the risks of acquiring them. The only way people can be sure not to acquire these diseases is to abstain from all forms of sexual contact. To reduce the risks of acquiring sexually transmitted   diseases,   those   who   are   sexually active  should  take  the  following  precautions: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Avoid  sexual  contact  with  multiple  part- ners,  anonymous  partners,  prostitutes,  and other persons with multiple sex partners. Avoid  sexual  contact  with  persons  who have  a  genital  discharge,  genital  warts, genital herpes lesions, or other suspicious genital lesions. Avoid  oral  or  anal  sex. Avoid  genital  contact  with  cold  sores. Use condoms and diaphragms in combina- tion  with  spermicides. Have  periodic  examinations  for  sexually transmitted   diseases. 5-10