Two women complained that they had been sexually harassed. Gemmill strongly discouraged dating, but officers admit that many crew members secretly fraternized. Half a dozen couples went to the captain and announced they had fallen in love. Last month a male and female crew member videotaped themselves having sex in a ship's compartment. The man was caught after he showed the tape to other sailors.
Some junior officers remain skeptical about the carrier's performance.
The Navy says problems must be put in context. The harassment cases were settled by officers on the ship and deemed minor. Investigators could not find enough evidence that the female crew member was sexually assaulted. Gemmill says the total number of disciplinary cases was less than on previous cruises, while the carrier's performance indicators, such as aircraft-sortie rates and maintenance levels, have improved. The pregnancy rate aboard the Ike was far lower than the overall pregnancy rate for Navy women serving on land.