RTC Makes SAPR-F Permanent Part of Recruit Training

GREAT LAKES, Ill. (NNS) -- Sexual Assault Prevention and Response - Fleet Level training will be a continuous training evolution at Recruit Training Command (RTC), even though the program technically ended for the rest of the Navy, March 31.

Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Fleet, or SAPR-F as it is called, will be provided for each training division on their 3-3 day, or third week/third day of training, through Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month in April and into the indefinite future.

"Ongoing SAPR-F training at RTC is a key component in preventing sexual assault," said Rear Adm. Donald Quinn, commander, Naval Education Training Command. "Starting that dialogue with recruits from day one about the incompatibility of sexual assault with our Navy Core Values only makes us stronger. Understanding effective bystander intervention is one of the single most impactful ways that new Sailors can make a difference."

The training consists of a 90-minute class on sexual assault, prevention and bystander intervention from those who observe a continuing-of-harm behavior. An approximately 30-minute video is shown in various segments and discussion encouraged with suggested questions facilitated by instructors. The three member instructor team always consists of a junior officer, typically a lieutenant; a chief, senior chief, or master chief; and either a victim advocate, sexual assault response coordinator or chaplain. The video is designed to portray a plausible scenario of the behaviors leading up to a sexual assault aboard a U.S. Navy vessel, in this case, the fictional USS Rupert Wheeling.

"We just think it's working so well," said Senior Chief Cryptologic Technician (Collection) Michelle O'Grady, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response liaison for RTC. "How we know that is when they get to the bystander intervention next door, their awareness and level of knowledge is higher. They say, "Wow." They're so much more prepared."

O'Grady is referring to courses taught at Training Support Command (TSC) Great Lakes during 'A' school, when recruits are able to apply the critical thinking skills in hard discussion settings first modeled at boot camp.

"A few of the classes, it was hard to facilitate because the Sailors knew the answers," said Chief Culinary Specialist (SW/AW/SCW) Tatisha Loring, SAPR liaison at TSC. "They always go back to the video that they viewed at Recruit Training Command and refer to those discussions. Before, we had to drag it out of them a little bit."

"They know why it's not o.k. to turn your back on a situation that's escalating out of control," said Loring. "The SAPR-F program is highly effective, and we've had more people come forward if they see inappropriate behavior. They're stepping in and taking control of the situation, and they're coming back and reporting. The message is getting out: if you've got this type of behavior, you don't belong here."

SAPR-F training at RTC is introduced by a short video featuring Capt. John Dye, commanding officer, Cmdr. Kertreck Brooks, executive officer, and CMDCM (MCD/PJ/FMF/SW) Christopher Angstead. However, this is not the first time recruits have heard the sexual assault prevention message; Dye initially delivers it via video while incoming recruits are still on the bus to boot camp.

"The Navy is committed to stamping out sexual assault in our ranks," said Dye. "We start the process before our recruits arrive at our facilities and continually build on that process throughout their training at RTC. While we provide detailed information on reporting sexual assaults, our primary focus is on prevention, intervention and avoiding situations that could lead to a sexual assault. The armed forces have traditionally led the way in addressing difficult social issues, and sexual assault is no different."

"Recruits get talked to about sexual assault so many times at RTC," said O'Grady. "On the bus, waiting in line for haircuts, P[rocessing]-days... For male and female wellness, recruits are given a form, and they're able to disclose sexual assaults in their past and get help."

Initial SAPR training is given on 1-3 training day, or the third day of their first week. Following Navy Core Values during first week of training from RTC chaplains, recruits then receive the subsequent SAPR-F video on 3-3 day of training. Liberty briefs from each ship's officer, which also include SAPR education, occur before recruits graduate.

"RDCs also talk to recruits about family planning and decision making," said O'Grady. "Those mentoring topics can go any way the recruit wants it to go. If they want to talk about those issues, they can certainly do that. When you're talking about that party you're going to go to in A-school, that decision-making is key."

O'Grady, who has served for 18 years, sees the SAPR-F training as unique within her career.

"I think they've realized that they need to change the way we do training because the Sailors that are coming into the Navy are changing," said O'Grady. "As leaders, I think we're doing a lot better job of understanding our Sailors. They're a lot smarter than we were, and we can learn a lot from them. Their input matters. Who is actually seeing this continuing-of-harm behavior? Having those hard discussions with them is exactly the way to prevent sexual assault from happening."

Though the SAPR-F video and discussion were designed with fleet sailors in mind, recruits are still able to connect with the message despite familiarization with some of the environments and ship-board terminology displayed.

"I initially thought it was going to be [tough]," said O'Grady. "After I started teaching the sessions, I realized it wasn't an issue. I realized they're taking prior experiences, from college, parties, drinking sessions, high school settings. I thought they weren't going to be able to relate. But they love the video; they love the realism. They kind of understand the dynamic, but I don't think they understand the size of a division on a small ship. They do understand the training, however. They like being asked their opinion."

That connection to the fleet deepens when recruits realize they are receiving the same training as other Sailors, already serving beyond Great Lakes.

"I always emphasize that this is the same training we give the petty officers," said O'Grady. "This is the same training you receive in the fleet. The Navy thought it was important to reach out to recruits with these same hard issues; recruits love that it is a chief, an officer here to train me. They get excited about that."

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.

Recruit Training Command, located in Great Lakes, Ill., trains over 37,000 volunteer civilian recruits annually, transforming them into basically trained Sailors. Learn more at http://bootcamp.navy.mil or at http://www.facebook.com/NavyRecruitTrainingCommand/.

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

For more news from Recruit Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/rtc/.