#SAAPM: Second Annual 'Girls Night Out' Promotes Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention

Monterey, Calif. (NNS) -- Military and civilian men and women within the Monterey community participated in a 'Girls Night Out' celebrating Women of Worth aboard the Presidio of Monterey (POM), April 12.

The purpose of the event was to raise sexual assault awareness and prevention by helping women and men focus on the value of who they are as individuals.

Topics that were stressed to those in attendance were: respect yourself by dressing appropriately, properly exercising and eating right, and providing self-defense techniques and new ideas on how to protect oneself in a hostile situation.

Chief Cryptologic Technician Interpretive Stephanie McCrosky, the Center for Information Dominance Unit Monterey (CIDUM) Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) victim advocate, encouraged CIDUM Sailors and other attendees to learn about the resources available to them.

"Besides their [service members'] immediate chain of command, SARCs and SAPR victim advocates, service members also have the Monterey Rape Crisis Center and the sexual assault nurses available to them if they should need it," said McCrosky.

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Stephanie Shaffer, the POM installation SARC, is responsible for all SAPR victim advocate training for all service branches on the installation.

When speaking with sexual assault victim's, Shaffer explains that one of the most important things victims should know is that the assault was not their fault.

"Most victims I see tend to blame themselves, as if they did something wrong, and they feel that some people are going to think they are bad," said Shaffer. "Some victims think, 'Well, how is this going to look on my senior's rating or evaluation?' So, what I ask them is, 'What if you were walking down the street and a crazy person riding a bicycle comes by and knocks you down - are you bad? Are you guilty? Did you do anything wrong? If someone was to punch you right now, are you at fault? No, the aggressors are the ones that did something wrong and they are at fault. Were you drinking too much? Maybe, but that doesn't mean you deserved to get raped. Nobody ever deserves to get raped, sexually assaulted or sexually harassed. It doesn't matter what you were doing. Rape is not your fault. What you're wearing is not a 'yes' to rape. What you were drinking is not a 'yes' to rape. The fact that you got separated from your friends is not a 'yes' to rape."

Air Force Capt. Elbert Laza, Air Force SARC representative aboard POM, who worked with Shaffer to put on the event, wanted to bring men and women, throughout the Department of Defense, together to raise awareness for all service branches and to give them the opportunity to learn about other supporting agencies, besides the military, that they have access to.

"This event is not only to explain the SAPR program for the military," said Laza, "but also to involve the civil community, so that they understand that if they don't feel comfortable talking to the military, for whatever reason, they have access to resources outside the military."

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Chelsea Robinson from the 311th Training Squadron attended the first Girls Night Out event in 2012 and was happy to see that this year's event was open to both men and women.

"It was nice that this event was open to everyone, including friends," said Robinson. "I think it's really important for everyone to be aware that sexual assault is actually out there, and even if a person doesn't see it or become a victim of sexual assault, it's important for everyone to know where to go for help if they are ever a victim of sexual assault."

The evening consisted of door prizes, Zumba dancing, food, numerous guest speakers discussing different resources available to victims of sexual assault and personal accounts of sexual assault.

In addition to the resources available to sexual assault victims, the Center for Information Dominance Unit (CIDU) Monterey conducts conversations with newly reported personnel on the Mentor's in Violence Prevention-Navy Bystander Intervention program, which is a leadership program that focuses on preventing violence against women by encouraging Sailors to speak out when they witness an act of violence against women.

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

For more news from Center for Information Dominance, visit www.navy.mil/local/corry/.