Originally Posted by
Mink
The above doesn't do much toward establishing a "just culture" - something that is generally considered the foundation of an effective safety program.
As USMC said, in the Navy the mishap investigation and the JAG investigation (the legal guys) are two very different things, and one must be careful not to "cross the streams". One attempts to find the cause of the mishap and implement steps toward prevention of future occurrence. The other, unfortunately, tries to affix individual blame and defend the service itself from any wrongdoing. The safety investigators should be viewed as the "white hat" guys. The JAG investigation...? Well, get yourself a good lawyer.
To the guy on the receiving end of either of these investigations, it's probably hard to tell the difference.
Oh I 100% agree. It's just that it's understood that you are gonna get hammered if your jet was involved in an accident. It was a guilty till proven innocent thing. As a matter of fact, the SP's would come and get you to take you to get drug tested and one of your commanders would start asking questions.
Slippery slope indeed.