Twelve sailors are reportedly under investigation in connection with an alleged incident in which their female shipmates were secretly recorded while undressing in a submarine shower over a period of 10 months, according to a Dec. 11 article in The Navy Times.

The independent publication, in a Dec. 3 article, broke the story of the investigation into the secret filming of the female officers on the USS Wyoming, an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine based in Kings Bay, Ga.

The subsequent article states that "while it appears only one sailor has been implicated in the videos' production and distribution, 11 are suspected of watching them and failing to report the matter to their commanders."

In response to questions from The Day after the incident was first reported, Lt. Cmdr. Tommy Crosby, public affairs officer with Submarine Force Atlantic, said in an email, "The alleged incident aboard USS Wyoming is not training related. The investigation is centered around sailors who allegedly conducted and participated in criminal activity that also violated the trust of our sailors and goes against every core value we hold sacred in our naval service."

The Wyoming was one of the first submarines to which female officers were assigned in late 2011. Immediately prior to the initial assignment of the female officers, Crosby said, crews received "refresher" training in sexual assault prevention and response; equal opportunity; and fraternization.

"Existing Navy policies are sufficient once a crew is integrated, no special training was developed for the integration process," he said.

Female officers are currently serving on board Ohio-class ballistic missile and guided-missile submarines and are set to join fast-attack submarines next year. Under the Navy's most recent plan, given to Congress July 18, the service expects to add enlisted women crew members to seven Ohio-class submarines starting in 2016 and to four Virginia-class attack submarines beginning in 2020.

All submarine officers, men and women, must pass through the Submarine Officer Basic Course at Naval Submarine School in Groton. All of the enlisted female sailors who are going to serve on submarines in the future will also go through submarine school training.

Crosby said, "Once Congress approves the Navy's plan to integrate enlisted women, they will report to submarine crews already integrated with female officers. The integration plan for enlisted women will follow the successful phasing model that has been implemented for the officer integration."

Female enlisted sailors will undergo the same professional training as their male counterparts, Crosby said.

The 2012 National Defense Authorization Act requires that all Department of Defense personnel, including civilians, be trained annually in sexual assault prevention and response policies and procedures.

Crosby said sexual assault prevention training is conducted during basic training for enlisted personnel and at commissioning for officers. He added that training is also done as needed or required by higher level personnel.

The process of reporting sexual harassment is the same at any command within the U.S. Navy or Defense department. Under DOD policy, personnel can report a sexual harassment complaint either formally or informally. While a formal complaint is submitted in writing, an informal complaint can be submitted either verbally or in writing either directly or indirectly via a third party.

Reporting sexual assault from a submarine is the same as for any other command. Under DOD policy, personnel can submit a restricted or unrestricted report. Restricted reporting allows individuals to confidentially disclose what happened to particular individuals without triggering the official investigative process or notification to command. Unrestricted reporting allows for an official investigation and command notification, and access to health care, victim advocacy and legal services.

As far as safeguards to prevent an incident like the one on the Wyoming from happening, Crosby said, "There is no single action, training event or policy that will prevent individuals from perpetrating incidents. Rigorous training and education of our sailors are the most effective preventive methods."

j.bergman@theday.com

Twitter: JuliaSBergman