Fleet Forces Command Hosts Prevention Training in Naples

May 21, 2013 (NNS) -- Service members at Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy attended a series of training seminars on preventing sexual assault, alcohol abuse and suicide, May 20-21, hosted by U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFF) based in Norfolk.

Senior leaders, supervisors, program managers and junior Sailors from Naples-area commands attended four training sessions, each tailored to its specific audience.

The training team included four personnel from USFF's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) office, chaplain staff and Navy Cyber Forces. They also brought along former Detroit Lions quarterback Eric Hipple and comedian Bernie McGrenahan who performed a comedy routine for all hands.

"I wasn't sure what to expect with a comedian coming in to talk to us about alcohol abuse and sexual assault," said Utilitiesman 2nd Class Joshua Ledestich. "The show was great though, and there was a lot of good information brought to the table as well."

McGrenahan's presence was intentional, said Marie Parker, USFF's SAPR program manager. "A personal message tends to resonate a lot more with people than the standard PowerPoint training style."

The comedian spoke to Sailors about how difficult experiences steered his life in a positive direction.

"By the time I was 25, I had three DUIs under my belt, lost my job, and my relationships with other people were in shambles," said McGrenahan during the all-hands session. "One day I took a good look at my life and decided I really needed help."

Cmdr. Brian Stamm, USFF deputy chaplain, set aside time to separately address religious ministries personnel. He talked about their duty to provide confidential ministerial support and counseling to service members and families in need.

"I appreciated the deputy chaplain taking out time to discuss the importance of the support we provide as members of the local religious ministries teams, specifically the confidential support services we offer community members," said Chief Religious Programs Specialist Rafael Barney from Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia.

USFF typically sends a team of experts to Naples every year to discuss critical issues facing the fleet. The team is expected to return next year.

For more news from Naval Support Activity Naples, visit www.navy.mil/local/nsanaples/.