Bataan Shows Support for Sexual Assault Awareness Month

USS BATAAN, Va. -- (NNS) -- Sailors and Marines gathered on the flight deck of multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) to form a human ribbon in support of Sexual Assault Awareness Month April 16.

Bataan is one of many naval vessels to use ship's company to make a human ribbon for Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

In 2001, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center conducted a survey to help decide what color and symbol would represent Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). The vast majority chose the color teal and the ribbon as a symbol.

"The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) representatives onboard Bataan brainstormed ideas to support the upcoming SAAM initiative," said Ens. Terrance Green, USS Bataan Victim Advocate. "The idea to create a human ribbon was conceived from the Sailors' belief that the importance and significance of SAAPM is not the color or symbol, but the people."

More than 200 Sailors and Marines assembled at the event to show their support for sexual assault prevention.

"The Navy is like a family and we all should want to take care of one another," said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Tiffany Copeland, USS Bataan Victim Advocate. "I think educating our Navy on the subject and teaching Sailors about being an active bystander is the best form of prevention."

Bataan has played a part in several other events raising awareness for sexual assault. Earlier this month, Sailors from Bataan walked laps in high heels for a SAPR function, "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes." They also set up an information booth on the mess decks during lunch and dinner hours.

In addition, Bataan Sailors decorated T-shirts to spread awareness throughout the command.
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"The prevention of sexual assault should be important to everyone," said Senior Chief Aviation Machinist Mate Rhonda Przybylski, USS Bataan Command SAPR Point of Contact (POC). "No one should ever be a victim of sexual assault."

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault seek help from our Command SAPR POC, Senior Chief Przybylski.

"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."

Bataan is currently in homeport Norfolk preparing for the annual Bold Alligator.

For more news from USS Bataan (LHD 5), visit www.navy.mil/local/lhd5/.