National Guard Bureau Closed Assessment of State's National Guard Sexual Assault Prevention Program

Thursday, February 17th, 2022 -- 11:00 AM

Gov. Tony Evers announced that the National Guard Bureau Office of Complex Investigations officially closed out its assessment of the Wisconsin National Guard’s sexual assault and harassment prevention and response programs this month. 

The 18-month collaborative effort between the Wisconsin National Guard and National Guard Bureau not only addressed program deficiencies, but ultimately resulted in a stronger and more resilient organization, according to a letter from Maj. Gen. Giselle M. Wilz, the director of staff at National Guard Bureau.

In December 2019, the Office of Complex Investigations completed an assessment that began in April 2019 and resulted in 22 findings and 21 recommendations in five areas, including: sexual assault prevention and response program implementation and management, sexual assault investigations, sexual harassment and equal opportunity program implementation, accountability through administrative and disciplinary actions, and command climate.

The Wisconsin National Guard immediately began incorporating those recommendations into its programs and began working with a National Guard Implementation Team to develop 39 tasks aimed at improving the Wisconsin National Guard’s sexual assault and harassment reporting procedures, investigation protocols, and accountability measures.

The plan called for strict compliance with federal regulations and guidance, supplemented by Wisconsin National Guard-developed processes that ensured proper reporting, investigation, accountability, and support for survivors.

Highlights of the plan included full Wisconsin National Guard implementation of National Guard Bureau and Department of Defense policies, regulations, and instructions including specific provisions that refer all allegations of sexual assault to local law enforcement and National Guard Bureau’s judge advocate and the Office of Complex Investigations.

In addition, the Wisconsin National Guard developed two new sets of program instructions as part of the plan, one focused on sexual assault reporting, investigation, and accountability, and another focused on sexual harassment reporting, investigation, and accountability.

The plan also called for the establishment of Case Management Groups established both at the wing and major subordinate command level and the state level.

Chaired by senior commanders at the Air Guard’s wing and Army Guard’s major subordinate command level, and by the deputy adjutants general for Army and Air at the state level, the groups include representatives from the inspector general, equal employment opportunity office, sexual assault response coordinators, the provost marshal’s office, and staff judge advocates.

The group collectively provides monthly updates to leadership on current sexual assault cases and response coordination, and address sexual harassment allegations, reprisal and retaliation complaints, and other misconduct.

The group also tracks and addresses key personnel vacancies, as well as training and certification deficiencies. The official closeout marks the end of a 32-month process that included a comprehensive review of the Wisconsin National Guard’s processes and procedures.

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