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Hear it, See it, Report it; Wasp trains on Preventing Sexual Assault
Story Number: NNS130626-20
6/26/2013

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Caleb Cooper,


USS Wasp Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- Sailors, Marines and midshipmen aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) participated in mandatory Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) training June 17-21.

In an effort to address the issue of sexual assault and harassment in the armed forces, President Barrack Obama ordered all services to stand down for training. NAVADMIN 156/13 and NAVADMIN 158/13 direct all service members and Department of Defense (DoD) employees to complete SAPR training by July 1.

In an effort to end sexual assault in the Navy, Wasp Sailors are doing their part to help erase it and the damaging effect to mission readiness and shipmates in our Navy culture.

"This is not like the usual yearly training that everyone has to go through," said Ens. Anna Taffer, Wasp's SAPR Point of Contact. "It's all interactive and it will find out how people in our crew participate with SAPR, how they are trying to prevent it, and if they're actively involved in things on the ship to try to mitigate and end this problem."

Back and forth communication between facilitators and crew members created a training environment with the goal of reiterating the Navy's zero-tolerance policy on sexual assault and harassment.

"The other SAPR trainings I've been to had more video and there were not a lot of questions and answer opportunities," said Navy Counselor 1st Class Tammy Scott. "It felt like it was just something we had to do to put a check in the box. This training seemed a little more in depth and the entire chain of command was involved, so it's different and more effective."

The wardroom became a classroom to a standing-room-only crowd as Wasp leadership asked pointed questions to the crew and played video taped messages from Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Mike Stevens reinforced the importance of ending sexual assault.

"I believe it definitely was an improvement, mainly because it wasn't just another boring Power Point, it was more engaging," said Information Systems Technician Seaman John Linse. "This got people to talk about it [sexual assault] more and come up with ideas of why this is still happening and how to fix it."

According to the Navy Fiscal Year 2012 Annual Report to the DOD, there were 425 unrestricted reports and 204 restricted reports by female victims along with 55 unrestricted and 37 restricted reports made by male victims.

"We have to police ourselves," said Scott. "We are supposed to be looking out for each other and we are supposed to be taking care of each other."

Get more information and resources to combat sexual assault at www.sapr.navy.mil. Sexual assault affects Navy readiness, and the Navy is committed to preventing sexual assault. Join the Navy's conversation about sexual assault on social media and help raise awareness by using #NavySAPR.

For more news from Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/surflant/.