#SAAM: Sexual Assault Awareness Training Conducted at NSA Naples

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Erik Luebke, Navy Public Affairs Support Element-East Detachment Europe

NAPLES, Italy (NNS) -- Naval Support Activity (NSA) Naples continued Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) with a stand-down training for all Sailors, April 23.

NSA Sailors reported to the training as part of a month long concentrated effort to express that sexual assault is not, and will never be, tolerated in the Navy, as expressed by this month's final theme, "We will not tolerate sexual assault."

The training consisted of presentations given by several service members, including NSA Naples Command Master Chief (SW) Charles Collins and Chief Master-at-Arms (SW/AW) Carrie Wesby, the Command Managed Equal Opportunity (CMEO) program manager, on the importance of preventing sexual assault.

"The training was very good and I enjoyed it," said Engineman 2nd Class (SW/EXW) Miguel Huerta. "I was unaware that a simple 'good game' or a simple smack on the backside could be considered a sexual assault."

Sailors are encouraged to watch out for each other, and to take measures to prevent sexual assault from happening to anyone, whether they are a service member or not.

"There are a few things we can do to reduce the risk of being sexually assaulted," said Sindy Copeland, the sexual assault response coordinator. "Be aware of your surroundings and pay attention to behaviors that may lead to sexual assault, such as inappropriate touching and pressures to have sex."

Sexual assault prevention and response is an important subject that Sailors should incorporate into their everyday life. The Department of the Navy is working to aggressively prevent sexual assaults, to support sexual assault victims, and to hold offenders accountable.

"While the Navy has made progress over the past several years, our work is not done," said Adm. Jonathan Greenert, the chief of naval operations in NAVADMIN 106/12. "Sexual assault is a crime that erodes our operational readiness and requires leadership from all levels of the chain of command."

The Department of Defense's SAAM weekly themes for April are, "Hurts One", "Affects All", "Prevention is Everyone's Duty" and "We will not tolerate sexual assault".

Sexual Assault Prevention and Response is an important element of the readiness area of the 21st Century Sailor and Marine initiative which consolidates a set of objectives and policies, new and existing, to maximize Sailor and Marine personal readiness, build resiliency and hone the most combat-effective force in the history of the Navy and Marine Corps. The Department of the Navy is working to aggressively to prevent sexual assaults, to support sexual assault victims, and to hold offenders accountable.

Help raise awareness by joining the conversation on social media using #SAAM.