Sexual Assault Prevention Videos Available from Defense Department

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

April 30, 2009 - Defense Department agencies at all levels have valuable resources at their fingertips for training servicemembers, civilian employees and contractors on prevention of sexual harassment and assault. More than two dozen prevention training DVDs are available through the DefenseImagery.mil Web site, said Vince Rotell, director of the Defense Imagery Management Operations Center's Customer Relationship Management Office at Tobyhanna Army Depot, Pa.

Although 25 DVDs are offered for sexual harassment and sexual assault prevention training, many are geared to a specific audience, Rotell noted. For instance, the Army is designated as the primary audience for the video titled, "The Many Faces of Sexual Assault," which was completed in May 2006 and serves as a way to generate discussion of sexual assault prevention. It also depicts a clear case of sexual assault vice sexual harassment.

Likewise, "SAVI: Putting the Pieces Together," completed in May 2003, targets the Navy, and explains the Navy's Sexual Assault Victim Intervention Program. The video was reviewed in 2008 to make sure the information contained in it was still current, Rotell said.

Another video, titled "Targeting Sexual Assault: Air Force Campaign Plan for Prevention and Response," was completed in November 2005 and is aimed at the Air Force. It explores the myths and realities surrounding sexual assault, as well as serving as a forum for the Air Force chief of staff and other senior leaders to address sexual assault and introduce the steps the Air Force is taking to enhance its prevention.

The videos, some of which date back to 1990, are reviewed about every three years to ensure they still contain valid information, Rotell said. "It comes back that these are still current," he said. "So there's some expert out there that's saying it's still good."

All of the more than 8,000 titles in the Defense Imagery catalog are available to Defense Department customers at no charge. Each request is checked to ensure only those eligible to have the videos get them.

The DefenseImagery.mil site employs a keyword search function. Users can search "sexual assault prevention," Rotell said, but should also search "sexual assault harassment," as both terms are used. Also, in the search box the only two "Result types" that should be checked are "A/V and IMI Products," and "Site Content," he added.