The Formation Accountability Project is an independent, nonpartisan legislative research and advocacy initiative. Its proposals are discussion drafts and do not represent enacted law, official Department of Defense policy, congressional sponsorship, or legal advice.
Accountability flowchart
Where accountability breaks down.
And how we propose to rebuild it.
Explore the challenges service members may encounter, the institutional processes that can influence their experiences, and the proposed legislative reforms intended to strengthen independent investigations, accountability, and due process.
* The middle lane describes potential or documented systemic risks, not findings that apply to every military unit.
Conceptual risk model
The systemic accountability loop
- 01Alleged misconduct
- 02Reporting or disclosure
- 03Potential fear of retaliation
- 04Potential loss of confidence in reporting channels
- 05Reduced willingness to report
- 06Potential persistence of unresolved misconduct
- 07Effects on trust, cohesion, morale, and readiness
- ↺ The cycle may repeat.
Proposed intervention points
- Protected reporting
- Independent investigations
- OSTC prosecutorial independence
- Record integrity
- Congressional oversight
- Command climate review
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