Training Support Center (TSC) Great Lakes held a staff training focused on domestic violence September 24.

Brian Clubb, J.D., U.S. Marine Corps Reservist (ret.) and Project Director, Military & Veterans Advocacy for Battered Women’s Justice Project, addressed over 100 staff members on the data, risk, dynamics and reporting mechanisms that are in place to combat the issue.

“The goal for today is to improve safety for family members, dependents, sailors, and to improve intervention from the command on down,” Clubb said. “Often times victims don’t know that they are victims, they may not know until it is too late and often times they are not going to take the steps necessary to insure that they are safe and their abusers get the treatment and intervention that they need. Even if the abuser needs to be locked up and potentially removed from the military. Hopefully we can get the message across that we all have role to play to put a stop to domestic violence.”

Domestic violence is a civilian as well as a military issue and is more prevalent than people know. Victims, perpetrators and individuals who are friends, family members, shipmates, commanders, for these individuals need to the know the dynamics of it to be able to intervene properly and connect individuals to resources both in and outside of the military.

According to the Department of Defense Report on Child Abuse and Neglect and Domestic Abuse in the Military for fiscal year 2018, there were over 8,000 domestic abuse incidents, approximately three-quarters of these incidents involved physical abuse and approximately two-thirds of victims are women.

Domestic violence also includes emotional abuse such as threats, isolation, extreme jealousy and humiliation. It also includes sexual abuse. Whenever an adult is placed in physical danger or controlled by threat or use of physical force by their spouse or intimate partner, she or he has been abused.

There are a number of individuals and organizations on a military installation that are key in preventing and responding to domestic violence. It is important for community-based victim advocates to know the roles and responsibilities of these key players and to establish contact with them.

Commanders also play a vital role in response to domestic abuse. It is the commander’s responsibility to ensure that alleged military abusers are held accountable for their conduct by taking appropriate disciplinary and/or administrative actions. 

"Domestic violence is unacceptable and incompatible with the high standards of professional and personal conduct that we expect and require of members of the Navy," said TSC Commanding Officer Capt. David Dwyer. "People shouldn't be afraid to ask for help and they shouldn't think it will just go away. It needs to be addressed immediately. Incidents need to be reported so we can make available to victims the full range of advocacy, medical and counseling services."

Speak with a counselor of victim advocate at a local Fleet and Family Support Center or a healthcare provider at a military treatment facility about reporting domestic violence. If you think you may be a victim of domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE or visit your installation Fleet and Family Support Center for information on available resources.

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