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SPAWAR Holds Third Annual 5K for Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month
Story Number: NNS130416-23
4/16/2013

By Tina C. Stillions, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Standing in solidarity at the starting line, under the gray of an overcast sky, runners and walkers of all levels waited for the signal to mark the start of the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) 5,000 meters (5k) race in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

The command-sponsored event, now in its third year, was created to help raise awareness about sexual assault prevention and response (SAPR) and to support the Navy-wide initiative. This year's theme, "We own it. We'll solve it, together," was central to SPAWAR Commander Rear Adm. Patrick Brady's opening remarks. The admiral, an avid marathon runner who kicked off the morning's event, started by acknowledging the previous day's bombings that rocked the Boston Marathon, killing three people and injuring many.

"Races are meant to be celebrations of personal and team effort, training and accomplishment, and not tragedies or venues for cowardly acts," said Brady. "Before we begin today's run, let's take a moment to remember those lost and injured as a result of the bombings yesterday."

After a moment of silence, Brady discussed the underlying goal of the command's sexual assault awareness and prevention campaign effort and 5K race.

"Our purpose today is two-fold. We are here to get a little exercise with our teammates but also to keep attention on a very serious problem in our military and society," said Brady. "It's a crime that hurts one but affects all of us. We're making progress, but just like running a race, we're not done until we cross the finish line. For sexual assaults, we are not done until they have been completely eliminated from our ranks."

A row of brightly colored t-shirts with personalized artwork and victims messages etched on them were draped across the front of the resource tables set up near the starting line. Representatives from the Navy's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Program were on hand to answer questions and provide information.

"Each of the t-shirts you see on display here tells a story about someone," said Faye Julies, sexual assault response coordinator for Naval Base Point Loma and SPAWAR. "Each one represents a victim of sexual assault and was made by a victim or family member affected by an assault. They describe intimately how the victims felt and what happened during and after the assault. These shirts personalize this important issue and make it real for our Sailors and our civilian community."

More than 125 people of all skill levels donned their running and walking shoes to participate in the race or stood at the sideline cheering others on. The SPAWAR Chief Petty Officer mess held a barbecue to support the run. A local television station crew covered the event for the local community, while volunteers marked time and gave out water to all those who participated.

Commands throughout the Navy have been hosting events in April to raise awareness about responsible behavior, including active bystander intervention and safety precautions. Within SPAWAR, leadership has been communicating regularly with the workforce and supporting all efforts to reinforce the seriousness of the issue.

"The goal of this initiative is to create a climate here that does not tolerate or condone sexual assaults," said Lt. Melinda Garcia, the command's SAPR lead. "The Navy, DOD and specifically SPAWAR are looking at sexual assaults across our Navy to determine what we can do to prevent them and how we can continue to promote awareness throughout the year and increase dialogue about active bystander intervention. Our hope is that victims learn they are not alone and that there's a SAPR team available to provide support."

Experts with the Department of the Navy Sexual Assault and Prevention and Response Program state that sexual assaults are one of the most underreported crimes in the Navy. One in three female service members and one in eight males will be the victim of a sexual assault or harassment at some point in their life. According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, that number is one in six in the general population.

SPAWAR is working diligently with Navy leadership to raise awareness, increase education and training, and to reinforce that these types of crimes are not tolerated. Through combined efforts, the goal is to ensure victims receive the care and support they need and that offenders are held accountable for their actions. Everyone has a role in stopping the crime of sexual assault and activities such as SPAWAR's 5K run are a way to extend that message.

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.

For more information on the U.S. Navy SAPR program, visit http://www.navy.mil/navydata/sapr/index.htm.

For more news from Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/spawar/.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.