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Pensacola Area Commands Sign Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month Proclamation
Story Number: NNS130409-11
4/9/2013

By Ed Barker, Naval Education and Training Command Public Affairs

NAS PENSACOLA, Fla. (NNS) -- The major tenant commands in the Pensacola area joined forces during Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM) by signing a proclamation April 8 encouraging all personnel to participate in SAAPM events, reach out to victims, learn more about the crime of Sexual Assault and intervene to prevent it.

Capt. Keith Hoskins, commanding officer of Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola invited major tenant commands to sign the proclamation as stakeholders and work as a team during SAAPM.

"This proclamation allows us to come together as leadership, so collectively we can take ownership of this major issue that has plagued our military service," said Hoskins. "It allows us to make sure the right folks are in place to assist us in our daily drumbeat of reducing and mitigating sexual assault within our commands."

Rear Adm. Don Quinn, commander of Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) penned the final signature, completing the proclamation.

"As tenant commands on bases around the world, NETC activities are proud to be a part of this combined effort for SAAPM," said Quinn. "Here in Pensacola, our school houses are active participants in Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention. Training commands take civilian volunteers and develop them into motivated, high quality Sailors. Part of the knowledge we impart is that assault goes against our ethos, it is a crime that will not be tolerated, and victims have advocates in their Navy leaders."

The Navy's theme for the month is "Courage" and supports the Department of Defense's theme of "We own it ...We'll solve it ... together." The goal for SAAPM is to empower commands to take ownership of this problem.

"My theme is always teamwork; collective action is stronger than individual action," added Hoskins. This proclamation gives us the opportunity to talk about things that have helped other commands; what programs do you have that other commands may not be aware of, so collectively we can come together and fight this issue at NAS Pensacola."

Kathleen Doherty, director of the Fleet and Family Support Center serving NAS Pensacola notes that the events scheduled for SAAPM are designed to call attention to a problem that has dramatic negative consequences on unit and personal readiness.

"Our NAS Pensacola educational events during SAAPM include Lights On Against Sexual Assault, Denim Day and the Amazing SAPR Race," said Doherty. "They call attention to the fact it is not OK to tolerate sexual assault in the military. These events reinforce that it is our collective responsibility to look out for our shipmates; each and every Sailor must understand that when you see something, you do something - and don't let sexual assaults happen."

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 #SexualAssault and #SAAPM.

More information on sexual assault prevention, posters and other tools are posted on the Naval Personnel Command's Sexual Assault Prevention website: http://www.sapr.navy.mil.