From Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy announced the 2014 Sexual
Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) theme of "Live Our Values: Step Up to Stop
Sexual Assault" and issued guidance to focus efforts on awareness and
prevention of sexual violence in NAVADMIN 066/14 released March 20.
The goal of the month is for individual commands to pause
and reflect on what the Navy has accomplished over the past year with regard to
sexual assault prevention and response and to look into the future as to how we
can continue to eradicate this crime from our ranks. Commands are empowered to
take ownership of this problem.
"Navy's recognition of SAAM 2014 is a component of our
efforts in the 21st Century Sailor Office to build a resilient Navy community
and will use the theme "Live Our Values: Step Up to Stop Sexual
Assault" to highlight bystander intervention and accountability,"
said Rear Adm. Sean Buck, director, 21st Century Sailor Office. "We'd like
Sailors to take the first half of the month to reflect on the efforts we've put
in place this past year and how we've tackled sexual assault. The second half
of April will focus on Sailors dedicating themselves to be active bystanders -
to step up and intervene in potentially destructive situations."
In addition to asking Sailors to sit down and talk about
sexual assault prevention, commands are encouraged to organize any number of
events to highlight the awareness and prevention of sexual assaults. Some of
the suggested events include hanging ribbons on trees around base, hosting
"Meet your SARC and victim advocate" events, organizing skits at the
local base theater and other such activities to raise awareness during the
month of April.
"In the past few months of traveling to meet the fleet,
I've noticed that Sailors themselves are stepping up and taking charge,"
said Buck. "I encourage you to continue to look out for your shipmates and
step up to stop sexual assault."
Sailors can also find information, references and resources
at www.sapr.navy.mil to help them determine how they would like their
individual command to observe this month. The website also includes resources
for victims of sexual assault to reach out and get help.
Sexual Assault Prevention and Response is an important
element of the readiness area of the 21st Century Sailor Office which
consolidates a set of objectives and policies, new and existing, to maximize
Sailor personal readiness, build resiliency and hone the most combat-effective
force in the history of the Navy. The Department of the Navy is working
aggressively to prevent sexual assaults, to support sexual assault victims and
to hold offenders accountable.
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