#SAAPM: Third Fleet CSADD Holds SAAPM Valor Run/Walk

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- More than 50 Commander, U.S. Third Fleet (C3F) Sailors and their families participated in a Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM) Valor 5K run and one-mile walk hosted by the Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions (CSADD) at Naval Training Center park April 26.

This year's theme for SAAPM is "We own it...We solve it...Together." Throughout the month CSADD showcased the Navy's commitment to lead by example and stamp out sexual assault. The Navy's stance reminds Sailors that a sexual assault within the command is a battle all Sailors must fight together.

"Every single Sailor is important to achieve our collective Navy goals," said Master Chief Hospital Corpsman Jeffery Dell, C3F's senior enlisted leader. "The negative impact starts on the deck plates with the assault and like a pebble thrown in a pond, the ripples wash over us all."

Throughout the month, various events are held Navy-wide promoting awareness of how sexual assault impacts readiness and the health and welfare of Sailors.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month was officially established in 2001 when the Resource Sharing Project and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center polled state, territory and tribal coalitions found that April was the preferred month to coordinate national sexual assault awareness activities.

"The Navy is a big part of our lives, and it's important for everyone to feel safe," said C3F CSADD president Intelligence Specialist 2nd Class Janet Ringleman. "We wanted to raise awareness in a proactive way."

C3F also showed their support for SAAPM by tying teal colored ribbons to trees on base, participating in the 14th annual Denim Day and by sending out daily information and statistics about sexual assault.

"I ran to support the command and bring awareness to pertinent issues, because sexual assault can be really detrimental to our ability to be a fighting force," said Intelligence Specialist Seaman Apprentice Jacob Bates, who finished second place in the run.

As we shape the future naval force C3F serves as the voice of our Sailors. C3F leads naval forces in the Eastern Pacific from the West Coast of North America to the international date line.

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 Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/c3f/