Training Support Center (TSC) San Diego participated in the fifth annual Naval Base San Diego (NBSD) Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Cup competition, April 26, at the NBSD Admiral Prout multi-purpose field.

The SAPR Cup competition is held onboard NBSD every April during Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM). This year’s theme is “Protecting Our People Protects Our Mission.”

“The focus point here is getting everyone together for some physical fitness, competition, and most importantly, to raise awareness,” said Linda Farrell-Pratschner, one of the NBSD sexual assault response coordinators (SARC). “If we can rally together like this in support and in competition, we can rally together to truly make a difference in preventing sexual assault.”

SARCs from NBSD offered advice on options available to victims and discussed the role that all Sailors have in helping one another.

Afloat and ashore commands from the San Diego region competed in various events including a cadence competition, running events, tug-of-war, sit-ups, push-ups, pull-ups, tire flip, and SAPR trivia.

“This competition is a great way to show our students, especially new accession Sailors, the level of commitment our military has to preventing sexual assault,” said Sonar Technician 1st Class Lovie Evans, one of TSC San Diego’s victim advocates. “Showing them that every command is united in supporting the SAPR program builds in an environment in which they may feel safe to communicate issues and empowers them to speak up when something is wrong.”

Aside from raising awareness, the SAPR Cup is also used to signify the Navy’s constant support and dedication to victims of sexual assault.

“We may not be able to truly understand what it feels like to be a victim,” said Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fueling) Yolanda Alfred, TSC San Diego’s SAPR point of contact. “However, we can support them. We push ourselves today to honor those victims and show that we will always be there to help.”

SAAPM provides the Navy with the opportunity to highlight programs and initiatives that educate Sailors, support victims, and encourage shipmates to take an active role in making a commitment to preventing, reporting, and eliminating sexual assault in the force. Sexual harassment and assault, in person or online, violates the Navy’s core values and is not tolerated.

For more information on SAAPM, including more information on how to prevent and report sexual assault, go to http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/support/21st_Century_Sailor/sapr/Pages/SAAPM.aspx.

For information about TSC San Diego visit http://www.netc.navy.mil/centers/tscsd/Default.aspx.

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