The Navy and Marine Corps announced they will no longer accept anonymous reports for discrimination and harassment under the Military Equal Opportunity program, replacing them with a confidential complaint option. The change aligns the services with recent Army and Air Force policy shifts and follows Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s September 2025 memo directing the Pentagon to eliminate anonymous reporting in favor of confidential channels.
Sailors and Marines may still submit anonymous tips for sexual assault, hazing and bullying, though further guidance is pending. Under the new system, personnel can file a confidential report and receive support services without filing a formal complaint, and they may later convert the report into a formal or informal complaint if desired. Confidentiality is waived if the report reveals an imminent threat of serious bodily harm, death, or intent to commit a crime or fraud.
Commanders are reminded they can still act on anonymous information, and a new “conflict resolution” process will be offered before any formal investigation to quickly address MEO‑related concerns. The updates comply with a June 18 Pentagon memo, and officials declined to provide additional details.
