This is probably one of the most stupid waste of taxpayer resources and time. I was in the class of 1990, and although I didn't graduate, I attend my reunions every 5 years. Nearly all of my classmates from 1990 are now retired "check of the month club", were involuntarily resigned like me, or are having an awesome continuing career in the best military service in the DoD.
On October 17th, 2018, Ms. Kimberly Perry contacted me on my never published, only owned by me, phone number. I don't know Ms. Perry, her rank or where she works. But she left me a voicemail stating she was with the Coast Guard Investigative service. I called her back and we talked for about 20 minutes but she emphatically refused to answer what the investigation was about or what it was concerning. She wanted to meet in person and initially I agreed. I thought this was rather strange since it took me over 9 months to get my VA loan validation when I was purchasing my second house. Why? Not to get sidetracked but people that have attended the USCGA but did not graduate, have no records in the national Veteran's Administration database. Apparently, only the Coast Guard Academy has not integrated their database with the VA!
So over 30 years after I was involuntarily resigned from the USCGA, I get a strange phone call out of the blue with a person that refuses to discuss most things on the phone and insists I meet them in person! I told her fine, I'll meet with you, as I have nothing to hide and I'll tell her what I know if I can remain anonymous.
She emphatically stated that it would be "on the record" and not anonymous and that I shouldn't talk to any of my classmates or anyone about this as not to taint the investigation. I said ok, I've nothing to hide really and my life is pretty much an open book. I imagined this had something to do with the #metoo movement or something else, but I was intrigued to know why the Coast Guard was talking to a person that never graduated, and only served 3 years active service AS A CADET!
We agreed to meet at a date and time through email. I notified Ms. Perry that I had a friend in town (not a CG classmate) and would like him to attend as my witness. She told me that he could not attend the interview unless he was my attorney. She also stated that she and a co-worker would meet with me.
Well now it doesn't sound like an interview, but an interrogation. She has a witness, but I'm not allowed one? (Once again this is just a buddy, who's never served in the military). Remembering back 31 years to my own Executive Board, holy hell, there's no way I'm going to meet with a governmental entity without an attorney, and I'm too lazy to hire one. I declined to meet with her but offered to answer any pertinent questions by email.
I doubt I'll ever hear from her again.
But here is my opinion on the subject matter:
It's a silly investigation and waste of resources. The only time I ever heard the N word spoken or used at the USCGA was when I had a black roommate and another black student would enter the room not realizing I was present. You dozens of roommates while living at the Academy. I had roommates that were from all races and backgrounds. No one used the N word with the exception of my black friends. There were no racial epithets used whether my roommate was Viet Namese, Hispanic, Phillipino, Italian, Black or White. I think the only race I didn't have as a roommate was Native American,... wait a minute, A native Costa Rican would be a Native American.
From a racial bias perspective, the only rule that was almost absolute was this: If you're either a racial minority or female and going to an executive board, you'll be reverted to the following class or lose your summer deployment to fix your grades or get into better shape, or work on your military skills. If you were white and male, you were gone. I didn't see systemic racial bias, but then again, I am white and male, and maybe I didn't witness it.