The Source for Navy News
Truman Takes a Stand Against Sexual Assaults
Story Number: NNS130423-08
4/23/2013
By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Chase C. Lacombe, USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) Public Affairs
ATLANTIC OCEAN (NNS) -- Sailors aboard aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) are participating in Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM) throughout April.
The Navy defines sexual assault as a form of discrimination involving sexual displays, unwelcomed physical advances or conduct of a sexual nature, regardless of gender.
"Sexual assault affects the whole Navy," said Chief Machinist's Mate Rufus Nettles, a Truman sexual assault prevention and response (SAPR) advocate.
"The Navy's goal is to get incidents down to zero," added Nettles.
The Navy conducts extensive training on sexual assault prevention for Sailors from the start of their careers, beginning as early as boot camp. Training is revisited in "A" school and upon arrival to their first command. Subsequent training is administered as required at every command.
"A lot of people grow up in different cultures and there are things individuals may not have been privy to," said Chief Aviation Electronics Technician Dana Smart, a Truman SAPR advocate. "Some things that may be common sense for one Sailor may not be for another. Creating awareness for the new Sailors is paramount."
SAPR advocates undergo extensive training to gain knowledge in order to better train and inform Sailors within their commands.
"Advocates attend an additional course to first become an advocate," said Smart. "We are required to attend 10 hours of continuing training each year to retain our position as an advocate. Classes are generally held quarterly for two to three hours each."
"We want to create awareness with different advocates to help Sailors put a face to a name," said Smart. "We have advocates ranging from E-1 to E-7, so anyone can feel comfortable speaking to someone if they decide they would rather talk to someone of their own rank to file a report."
There are two ways a victim can file a report for sexual assault; restricted and unrestricted.
Unrestricted reports consist of a medical examination, counseling from a chaplain or psychiatrist and formal investigation of an incident. Information gathered is used to prosecute the alleged assailant and for statistical data. Details regarding the incident will be limited to only those personnel who have a legitimate need to know.
A restricted report also offers counseling and medical assistance, but no investigation will be conducted, and no charges can be filed against the alleged perpetrator. The command is then made aware of the incident. No names, rank or gender are included in any reports filed to ensure confidentiality. Victims of sexual assault who wish to file a restricted report can speak confidentially with a sexual assault response coordinator (SARC), victim advocate (VA), chaplain or healthcare professional.
"Don't be afraid to come forward," said Smart. "If you know of someone who has been a victim, encourage them to seek help."
The Navy uses the month of April each year to raise awareness for sexual assault.
"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."
If you've been the victim of a sexual assault, you can see your chaplain, a SAPR advocate, SARC or the Department of Defense (DoD) helpline on the web at http://SafeHelpline.org, by phone at 877-995-5247 or text 55247 in the continental United States or 202-470-5546 outside the U.S. For further information on the DoD Sexual Assault Prevention and Response office visit http://www.sapr.mil.
For more information on HST visit www.facebook.com/usstruman.
For more news from USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn75/.