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Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola Commanding Officer Capt. Christopher Martin signed a proclamation Oct. 2 at the National Flight Academy onboard NAS Pensacola reaffirming the air station’s commitment to support victims of domestic violence and end family violence in the NAS Pensacola community.
Martin signed the proclamation during the third annual Community Response to Domestic Violence ceremony, an event designed to publicize the annual designation of October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The brief ceremony, attended by nearly 50 individuals representing NAS Pensacola community partners and military leadership, was initiated three years ago and is designed to honor Pensacola-area service members and community members working to support victims of domestic abuse. Thirteen people from six agencies in the community, four service members and one service dog were recognized during the ceremony for their individual contributions to victim care.
“Mission readiness is critical, and I believe the individuals recognized here today are aiding us in a critical aspect in not only making [NAS Pensacola] mission ready, but the fleet mission ready,” Martin said. “It is critical that Sailors and their families know and utilize the vast resources and partnerships among the leadership here, the social service agencies, schools, base agencies and law enforcement agencies to help them develop a progressive and positive and happy home life. That positivity and happiness at home translates into positivity and happiness here on base. Positivity and happiness promote success, and success is what makes the Navy and its Sailors exceptional.”
Similar proclamations addressing the need to combat domestic violence are being signed throughout Commander, Navy Region Southeast (CNRSE), bringing to light what can be a difficult topic to address.
The ceremony also served as a launching pad for NAS Pensacola’s month-long observance of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, an annual observance which grew from a day of unity observation in October 1981 into the first Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October 1987. The observance is designed to raise domestic violence awareness and inform service members and their spouses about domestic violence prevention efforts and reporting options for victims.
Laurie Darmofal, the NAS Pensacola Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) Family Advocacy Victim Advocate, said that even though significant strides have been taken in curtailing domestic abuse situations, abuse does still occur and can have dramatic impacts.
“It is extremely critical to understand that domestic violence and abuse is not just physical, but it often is extremely emotional and mental as well,” she said. “Domestic violence affects us all, yet it remains a widely taboo subject. This month and this proclamation are critical in bringing the issues to light. If we are to rid ourselves of this terrible plight, we must be willing to address it and talk about it. That is what we are doing here, and it is what we will continue to do.”
Darmofal added that the realities of domestic abuse are more widespread than individuals realize; one in three women and one in four men are victims of domestic abuse. She also said that between 1995 and 2001, more than 200 domestic abuse related homicides occurred among military members and their families.
“Domestic violence affects us all,” she said. “Mission readiness is jeopardized when domestic violence exists in the home of a Sailor. They may appear physically ready to undertake the mission they are assigned, but internally they are elsewhere, struggling to find a solution to the domestic turmoil at home, and while they may physically be present, mentally they could be adrift.”
Darmofal said the ceremony and proclamation serve to reinforce the Navy’s level of commitment to ending domestic violence in its ranks.
“It is on all of us to work for the change we need. Current attitudes and behaviors that allow domestic violence to go unnoticed, unreported and unpunished,” she said. “We should all commit to being part of the solution. We should rededicate ourselves to creating a place where violence is not tolerated, and survivors are supported, and all people are able to pursue their fullest measure of happiness without fear of abuse or assault.”
Naval Air Station Pensacola, referred to as the ‘Cradle of Naval Aviation,’ is designed to support operational and training missions of tenant commands, including Naval Aviation Schools Command, the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training, Marine Aviation Training Support Groups 21 and 23 and is the headquarters for Naval Education and Training Command.
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03 October 2018
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