#SAAM: SUBASE New London Sailors Attend Sexual Assault Training

By Lt. Cmdr. Jennifer Cragg, Commander, Submarine Group 2 Public Affairs

GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- Sailors assigned to Naval Submarine Base New London attended two Sexual Assault Training events at the Dealey Center in Groton April 18.

Rear Adm. Rick Breckenridge, commander, Submarine Group 2 addressed the Sailors prior to the kick-off of the training about the institutional changes required in our Navy to end sexual assault.

"This year, this month, our purpose is to talk about this frankly and to make a resolute to change this behavior within our organization," said Breckenridge. "We will make it crystal clear without ambiguity on what the rules are within the Navy."

Breckenridge added that "sexual assault is not to be tolerated; sexual assault, period, is wrong."

Deb Drucker, Sexual Assault Response coordinator at Naval Submarine Base New London, provided training and discussed how sexual assessment is contrary to the Navy's core values.

"The Navy is deeply committed to how it responds to sexual assault and the best way to train its force and how to deal with this issue," said Drucker.

"Efforts will not stop in April, it's our moral duty to keep Sailors and their families safe," said Drucker. "Sexual assault affects us all."

The goal of Navy Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), April 2012 is to reduce sexual assaults through direct, sustained engagement of all-hands at all levels, while sending the message that preventing the crime is everyone's duty.

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.