Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia's (EURAFSWA) new sexual assault prevention and response officer (SAPRO) shared his plans for the future direction of EURAFSWA's program.

"Our Sailors need to respect and trust each other from day to day to accomplish their mission," said Cmdr. Aaron Shiffer, EURAFSWA's new SAPRO. "Sexual harassment or assault is a violation of that respect and trust which breaks the Navy's chain at a critical link, jeopardizing our Sailors and our mission."

As a ship provides SAPR services for the crew as one of its lines of operation, Region EURAFSWA's Fleet and Family Services (FFS) provide the same SAPR capabilities on each of its installations to the fleet, joint, and allied forces. FFS is one of eight lines of operation. The others are safety, housing, air operations, port operations, security, MWR and the core: the fuels, water, and power for the bases. Through these lines, Region EURAFSWA's installations are force multipliers that maximize combat capability of operational units.

SAPR's mission is to prevent and respond to sexual assault, eliminating it from our ranks through a balance of focused education, comprehensive response, compassionate advocacy, and just adjudication in order to promote professionalism, respect and trust, while preserving mission readiness.

"Something that we will see in the near future is a collaborative effort from the SAPR, EO [equal opportunity], legal, fleet and family, and chaplains in the form of a resiliency team to help Sailors make the best decisions to enhance their careers," said Chief Scott Reed, regional command climate specialist. "Some of the challenges with that are going to be getting the SAPRO, EO, legal, fleet and family and chaplains on the same page."

SAPR seeks to promote and foster a culturally aware and informed Navy, respectful of all, intolerant of sexual assault and supported by a combination of prevention, advocacy and accountability.

"Sexual assault does not just happen. It cultivates out of an environment where the offender thinks their actions, attitudes and behaviors are being tolerated," said Reed, whose responsibilities include ensuring EURAFSWA installations conduct EO and sexual harassment (SH) trainings, and advises the regional commander on all EO and SH policies and issues. "Be an active bystander. Help someone that may be targeted. Help friends that aren't thinking clearly and may become offenders. Intervene before the crime is in progress. Take action at the beginning of the continuum of harm and foster a healthy work environment."

Navy Region EURAFSWA provides operational platforms ashore that enable U.S., allied and partner nation forces to be where they are needed and when they are needed to ensure security and stability in Europe, Africa and Southwest Asia.

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