Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit (CNATTU) Lemoore service members, students and staff participated in several Sexual Assault and Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM) activities designed to increase awareness and promote camaraderie during April 2018.

The series of events onboard Naval Air Station Lemoore was designed to increase awareness of sexual assault situations, the role of alcohol in sexual assault, active intervention strategies and avenues of support for sexual assault victims.

"Bringing CNATTU together through multiple events to recognize SAAPM was a great success," said Senior Chief Aviation Machinist Mate Raymond Bitke, a CNATTU Lemoore Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) team member. "Our SAPR team went above and beyond to raise awareness and refresh our staff and students on the procedures as well as resources available to them."

Activities included manning booths in NAS Lemoore high traffic areas and distributing bags with information on reporting procedures and local phone numbers for reporting sexual assaults.

CNATTU Lemoore SAPR team members also organized a 'Chalk the Walk' event April 9, where participants used washable sidewalk chalk to write messages and create works of art designed to support and increase SAAPM initiatives.

A door decorating contest challenged staff to decorate office and classroom doors with SAAPM themes including "Denim Day" and "Raise You Voice for Prevention."

The month-long activities concluded with a 1.5-mile fun run April 24. More than 160 participants, wearing teal ribbons, the Department of Defense recognized color for SAAPM, participated.

"I've been in the Navy for 10 years and the change I have seen in regard to sexual assault has been amazing," said Aviation Electronics Technician 2nd Class Ivy Valenzuela. "I am proud to be a part of this change in the Navy."

CNATTU Lemoore is a training unit specific to the F/A-18 Hornet platform and is part of the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training (CNATT), headquartered at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida.

CNATT is a technical training agent for the Naval Aviation Enterprise (NAE) an organization designed to advance and sustain Naval Aviation warfighting capabilities at an affordable cost, and is a training center under Naval Education and Training Command (NETC).

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