What can I do about a person who leaked confidential information from a climate survey?

2016-03-02T14:46:53-05:00

I took a climate survey not too long ago for my company, I was assured that everything on the survey was to stay confidential but it has come to my attention that stuff on my survey and my survey specifically, was revealed to another unauthorized party by someone higher up in my chain on the grounds that "I said stuff that made me stand out and they recognized it was me".... What can I do about the person responsible for leaking this information? (1*G)

Response by SPC Andrew Griffin made Mar 2 at 2016 2:50 PM

2016-03-02T14:50:54-05:00

The problem I have with it is Leaders don't really take them into account! That's why there is no changes in Units and ETS Rates are HIGH!

Response by SFC Wade W. made Mar 2 at 2016 2:59 PM

2016-03-02T14:59:17-05:00

I would go straight to the JAG with it. This is totally inappropriate for any leader to be involved in. Just my take.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Mar 2 at 2016 3:00 PM

2016-03-02T15:00:56-05:00

I find the concept of "confidentiality" in the Army a bit wanting. Not sure what you can do, but it's no surprise to me as I've seen people's personal or financial business revealed to the masses in the Army, which you could NEVER get away with in the civilian world.
Good luck.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2016 3:02 PM

2016-03-02T15:02:08-05:00

On the last one I took before ETSing I found out that the commander does get access to some of the comments section at the end of the survey. I know this because my commander called a company huddle and read them back to us. He pretty much laughed the whole time. It was obvious that he didn't take it seriously at all.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2016 3:19 PM

2016-03-02T15:19:26-05:00

This is a long standing problem in the Army. In 1979, our brigade officers filled out command climate surveys as part of the then new organizational effectiveness fetish. Then we had meetings (LTs meeting, CPTs meeting, etc) and then a spokesperson for each group presented comments to the brigade commander about things we didnt like about how the brigade operated and ideas for ways to improve things. At the end of the presentations, the brigade commander got uo and said, almost in these exact words " screw all of you. This is my brigade and we are going to do things my way". Then he had the brigade S1 compare survey comments from the LTs with the staff duty officer logs to see if they could ID who was who by handwriting.

So sadly, there is no such thing as true anonymous comments in things of this type, and every soldier needs to be aware of that. And it really is sad.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2016 3:21 PM

2016-03-02T15:21:19-05:00

Oh my goodness. I've been down this road before, except I was a PFC in 2005. My squad leader read the command climate survey to the squad making people admit whose response was theirs. I kept telling him that I didn't think it was right, but he kept saying "do you have something to worry about?" Well, I did because I told what I really thought of him and it wasn't good. Well, I got taken out of a leadership position for that.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2016 3:42 PM

2016-03-02T15:42:19-05:00

I would contact EO or the Installation IG office.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Mar 2 at 2016 3:56 PM

2016-03-02T15:56:18-05:00

I would say you would have to Refer Charges on the Individual. This doesn't sound like a fun experience for all involved, no matter what.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2016 6:56 PM

2016-03-02T18:56:57-05:00

Did you put any identifying information on the survey? The survey is also categorized by demographics (rank, age, race) so if you are the only person that makes up a particular demographic in your company it would be possible to figure out also. SGT Private RallyPoint Member

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2016 9:40 AM

2016-03-03T09:40:45-05:00

While your specific comment may be being said there is no where on the survey for your name, only your demographics. The code they give you to access the survey is for the entire unit conducting survey. There is no way for them to know it is you unless you have voiced that opinion verbally before in a non confidential setting.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2016 4:42 PM

2016-03-03T16:42:28-05:00

I can't read all of the responses, but how do you know specifically that your survey was leaked. Unless your the only one in your unit (only male, only white or other race and rank). Hope that makes sense not sure how they know it's you?

Response by CPT Mark Gonzalez made Mar 3 at 2016 5:24 PM

2016-03-03T17:24:27-05:00

The only way you could be pegged by the survey itself, is if you have very narrow demographics or you made a very specific remark and it was too obvious based upon the content of the remark. So as much as you may want to blame them you outed yourself based upon what you said. Never assume anything is truly anonymous. Whistle blower protection exists for a reason, but that most likely doesn't apply here and you have limited freedom of speech in the military.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2016 11:23 AM

2016-03-04T11:23:52-05:00

As a commander, I can assure you that information on a survey is sometimes easily identifiable by either the writing style or if it was specific to a certain event that can be correlated to an individual. It is not against the rules so to speak to know who wrote something on a survey. However, no one is authorized to identify individuals who have participated in the survey. Talk to your unit EO rep if that is your concern.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 15 at 2016 11:20 AM

2016-03-15T11:20:44-04:00

If someone talked about a climate control survy it is a violation of the EO policy. Take the matter to your BDE or BN EO NCOIC or IG.