The report said that multiple students and instructors were aware that the gesture was inappropriate, “but the investigation did not reveal any overt motivation or intent that this was a discriminatory act towards any racial, religious, or ethnic group.”

The president of the union that represents West Virginia correctional officers did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.

The hand gesture performed by the students was used in Nazi Germany to salute Adolf Hitler, and it endures as a symbol of anti-Semitism and racism. The report said that while trainees began doing the gesture during the second or third week of their academy session in what some called a “sign of respect” for Ms. Byrd, several recognized the gesture’s “historical implications” and refused to participate with the rest of the class.

“Others who knew the implications of the gesture felt pressure to fit in and joined in,” the report said. “Some of these class members voiced their concerns to classmates. Those voicing concerns were assured by those comfortable with the gesture, that since there was no racial motivation on their part, the gesture was acceptable.”

The report said that two other instructors saw students use the gesture and reprimanded the class. “One of these instructors was rebuked by a student who stood up in defense of himself and the other cadets making the gesture and said, ‘Look at me I am black, and I am doing it,’” the report said. “This student was recognized as one of the informal class leaders.”

Ms. Byrd was aware of objections to the salute, but she did not stop the behavior and instead “encouraged it, reveled in it, and at times reciprocated the gesture,” the report said, adding that she told the trainees to make the gesture for their class photo, which was to be distributed in a graduation packet.

“Ten of the cadets reported they did not make the gesture until Byrd told them to,” the report added. “These cadets stated that they only did it at that time due to fear of not graduating for disobeying the direction of an instructor. Seven of those cadets, in order to comply with Byrd’s direction but not make the gesture, held up a closed fist.”