Student barracks competed to be recognized for their shirt design skills in a Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month themed contest being judged by Training Support Center (TSC) Great Lakes leadership increasing attention to month, April 16.

Held at the Epicenter, the event featured bowling, pizza, movies, and various other activities focused on raising awareness to the Month’s theme "Protecting Our People Protects Our Mission: Make the Commitment." 

During the event students displayed their Clothesline Project designs display shirts with written messages and illustrations that graphically demonstrate the impact of sexual assault. TSC Executive Officer Cmdr. Jason Juergens was one of the judges. The shirt design from USS North Carolina barracks was chosen first place, USS Farragut was second and USS Porter barracks was third.

"Our example and leadership should be the cornerstones of our efforts to eliminate sexual harassment in the workplace,” Juergens said. "Our staff and instructors must set a strong example for our students to emulate. They must clearly illustrate how to treat all people with dignity and the utmost respect. Every Sailor and civilian at TSC has the ability to take appropriate action if they witness sexual harassment."

Multiple formal Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) training events are held throughout the year. Although this event is held in a more relaxed environment does not take away from the importance of the subject matter. 

“This event is a good reminder for the staff and students that SAPR awareness is a priority here at TSC, and the more informal setting here allows us to let our guard down and really focus on the matter at hand,” said Navy Military Training Instructor Senior Chief Electronics Technician Tamika Williams, the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response command liaison for TSC. “Also, in the spirit of the theme for this year, I feel it's important that the Command knows that we place them as a priority and look forward to providing positive activities for them to participate in during their liberty time.”

Multiple events were held this month for staff and students as part of a year-long effort to stand against sexual assault.

“Sexually assaulting another shipmate defies everything we stand for as Sailors,” Williams said. “In order to have a highly trained and effective command, there must be trust amongst each other; sexually assaulting a shipmate violates that trust in the most egregious way. Sexual assault prevention and response is about courage … Courage for victims to report, for shipmates to intervene, and for leaders to do what needs to be done – We all must have the courage to do what's right."

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