Navy Medicine Operational Training Center (NMOTC) announced today 31 Independent Duty Corpsman (IDC) students at San Diego Surface Warfare Medical Institute (SWMI) violated the school's honor code over the last year by cheating on school exams.

The students involved were disenrolled from the IDC program and administrative measures have been taken to ensure they will not become IDCs in the future. Additionally, 13 students have been referred for administrative separation from the Navy.

"We take seriously our commitment to provide the best care possible to those entrusted to us, and hold all our staff, including our corpsmen, to the highest standards. Falling short of those standards will swiftly result in the highest attention of senior leadership and quick, decisive, definitive action to ensure fidelity and confidence in the Navy Medicine team and the care we provide," said Vice Adm. Forrest Faison, Navy surgeon general and chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. "We will not entrust the lives of others to those who cheat."

The cheating came to light after a student notified the San Diego SWMI detachment leadership that students were sharing test questions, triggering an internal command investigation in February. The initial investigation prompted a second, more extensive, investigation.

The second investigation, convened by Navy Medicine Education and Training Command, concluded May 31 and produced documented evidence of compromised tests and organized cheating by IDC students. Investigators determined staff and faculty were not involved.

The additional investigation also resulted in the June 22 relief of the SWMI officer-in-charge and senior enlisted leader after failing to safeguard testing materials or take any action to mitigate a command climate of pervasive cheating. Their positions are being temporarily filled until permanent personnel replacements are identified.

Navy Medicine Education and Training takes seriously its role to deliver professional, occupational and operational education and training solutions that support Navy Medicine's mission of keeping the Navy and Marine Corps Family ready, healthy and on the job.