Sailors assigned to Naval Technical Training Center Lackland kicked off the 2016 Sexual Assault Prevention and Response, and Alcohol Awareness Month with an all-hands call, March 31.

This year's SAPR theme is "Eliminate Sexual Assault. Know Your Part. Do Your Part," and NTTC Lackland Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Jeff Martin, pumped up the crowd as his shouts of "Go Navy" were returned with "Eliminate Sexual Assault."

As the former executive assistant at the 21st Century Sailor Office, Martin said he feels strongly about the SAPR mission and believes there is no room in the Navy for sexual assault.

"Team Lackland is committed to building the 'Total Sailor'," said Martin. "We, as Sailors, are guided by three principles for our behaviors and conduct: Navy Ethos, Sailor's Creed, and our Navy Core Values. There is no room, 'in and out' of uniform or in social media 'on or off line' that supports behavior against our guiding principles that result in the crimes of rape or sexual assault. We are shipmates committed to the mission. There is no room in our Navy for behaviors that go against a climate of dignity and respect for all. Team Lackland is committed to building the 'Total Sailor' and with integrity, accountability, initiative, and toughness."

Commands are encouraged to promote activities that reinforce personal and unit commitments to eliminate sexual assault in the military. Every person has a unique role in preventing and responding to sexual assault, but most importantly to act when they see something.

"The time has come for us to eliminate sexual assault," said NTTC Lackland Command Master Chief Vaughn Coker. "It is very important that we, as a team, understand that the Navy is not going to tolerate sexual assault. We are not going to tolerate sexual assault; we are going to eliminate it."

NTTC Lackland Sailors will have numerous opportunities throughout the month to take part in SAPR related activities and training. April 2, students took part in a "Let's Talk About Sex" seminar with the regional sexual assault response coordinator.

There are activities planned for the San Antonio area as well. These include a "Strike Out Sexual Assault" bowling event, guest speaker Monika Korra presenting "Kill the Silence: A Survivor's Life Reclaimed," a 5K Color Run/Walk, "The Hunting Ground" viewing and discussion, and a "Drive Out Sexual Assault" golf tournament.

NTTC Lackland's SAPR Program Manager, Chief Operations Specialist Shevaughn Jefferson, said, "Our goal, in addition to eliminating sexual assault, is to promote overall positive decision making in all facets of our Sailors lives. We are certainly going to hammer home the message in this arena. We want to foster the best conditions in order to produce the best future leaders our Navy has ever seen, and it starts by each Sailor knowing their part and doing their part 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year."

In a statement earlier this year, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson, announced his five initiatives to help end the scourge of sexual assault in our Navy. The initiatives include:

1. A shipmate is not a "bystander." If you see something wrong, do something right.

2. Establish counselors within the Fleet and Family Support Centers as a resource for victim support.

3. Improve our personnel management practices and procedures, following a sexual assault experience, to ensure our Sailors are put in the best position possible to succeed.

4. Continue our efforts to educate our Sailors and reduce alcohol abuse in the Navy, particularly binge drinking.

5. Better utilize technology to remove cultural barriers and stigma associated with reporting a sexual assault or seeking advice and counsel.

April also serves as Alcohol Awareness Month and the 2016 Navy Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention theme is "Talk Early, Talk Often." The month is to reemphasize responsible use of alcohol and abuse prevention. Staff and students will have several opportunities to get a hands-on approach by using goggles that simulate the effect alcohol has on coordination.

"This is also a good time to take a fix on irresponsible alcohol consumption," said Martin. "Too often alcohol is a direct link to behaviors in the continuum of harm. This year's them of 'talk early, talk often' will be embraced by Team Lackland. I challenge all Sailors at Team Lackland to carry these messages throughout the year and their careers. Eliminating these behaviors will be a daily commitment 'in and out' of uniform and 'on and off line' in social media."

"If you are at [the legal] age to drink, we are asking you to be responsible when drinking," said Coker. "When you have a drink and you make the wrong choice, it is going to cost you something. You are putting your career on the line for doing things you know are unethical. You have to stay hungry folks, you have to be motivated, and you have to be in it to win it, all day every day. That is what game changers do."

The Center for Security Forces provides specialized training to more than 23,000 students each year. It has 14 training locations across the United States and around the world where training breeds confidence.

For more information about the Navy's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response, go to http://www.sapr.navy.mil and click on SAAPM 2016.

For more information about the Navy's Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Program, go to http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/support/21st_Century_Sailor/nadap/Pages/default2.aspx.

For more information about the Center for Security Forces, visit us at http://www.navy.mil/local/csf.

For more news from the Center for Security Forces, visit us at http://www.navy.mil.

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