#SAAM: Sexual Assault Awareness Training Takes New Direction at NBVC

POINT MUGU, Calif. (NNS) -- Naval Base Ventura County hosted sexual assault awareness training featuring the "Happy Hour" comedy tour with Bernie McGrenahan at Needham Theater in Port Hueneme, Calif., April 10.

The event was sponsored by U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFF) and featured McGrenahan who performed two shows, reaching nearly 1,000 Sailors, Seabees, Marines and Airmen.

"What no Army guys? Let's talk about them, then," McGrenahan quipped during his opening volley to a packed theater. No stranger to military bases, McGrenahan's routine is packed with jokes appealing to men and women in uniform.

"I went to a military doctor because I had a cough. Know what he gave me?" he asked. The audience's resounding answer - in unison - "Ibuprofen!"

"I know! It's like those guys have a Motrin chart or something," he responded.

McGrenahan's show combined sexual assault and alcohol awareness training with a stand-up comedy routine. He shared details about his life in between and as part of his jokes, he slowly built up to a strong message.

Personal testimonials serve as strong warnings against the dangers of alcohol misuse. He tells the audience about his escalating alcohol use as a teen and young adult. He talks about getting three tickets for driving under the influence by the time he was 25.

McGrenahan also talked about his younger brother's alcohol issues and subsequent suicide. He doesn't pull punches.

"His message really meshes with our suicide, alcohol and sexual assault awareness training," said Marie Parker, USFF standards and conduct officer. "We know that the thread of alcohol abuse runs through suicide and sexual assault incidents. Fifty percent of all sexual assaults involve alcohol."

McGrenahan reminded everyone that consent can only be given when you're sober. He further encourages listeners to "be a good friend" and step in if they see a friend in danger or getting a little too touchy feely when they or their partner have been drinking.

"My friends never did. They called me a chump for not drinking. Know how many of them came to visit me when I was in jail for DUI? Zero," McGrenahan said. "I needed to get new friends."

The message and his approach resonated with the audience full of young service members.

"I like the way he went about delivering the message," said Construction Mechanic 2nd Class Jose Hernandez. "It started off like a regular comedy show, then slowly got more serious. It takes a lot to capture my attention, but he really did."

McGrenahan has been performing comedy shows for the military for the past five years, averaging 150 engagements a year. The Happy Hour tour itself, though, is 15 years old.

"I've been doing this show at colleges since 1997," McGrenahan said. "The military first heard about me in 2007. It's a way to mix up the way presentations are done. They get a fresh, innovative and creative training, and I throw in a bonus comedy show."

For McGrenahan, it's about more than getting a laugh. It's about finding a way to address, and maybe cure, social problems that plague our youth.

"We need better role models. You men and women in uniform are those role models," he told the NBVC audience.

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 #SAAM.

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

For more news from Naval Base Ventura County, visit http://www.navy.mil/local/nbvc/.