Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC) students participated in an event designed to reinforce the Department of Defense (DoD)-wide Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM) April 26 onboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola.

The “Amazing SAPR Challenge,” now in its seventh year, immediately followed another NATTC event, the organization’s “Chalk the Walk” gathering, which featured staff and students writing inspirational messages on the sidewalk in relation to sexual assault prevention and response.

Nearly 4,000 NATTC students participated in the 3.1 mile run, which included four stations at which participants were required to stop and receive a brief talk on the role of alcohol in sexual assault, provide an example of different types of intervention, observe a brief skit and identify what type of intervention was portrayed. Signs along the race route provided information to assist participants in answering questions at each stop.

“We have so many initial accession service members here and ensuring that they’re aware of the Navy and DoD policies on sexual assault is something we as leaders should take to heart,” said Chief Aircrew Survival Equipmentman Hezekiah Tolar, event organizer and NATTC Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) point of contact. “We are here not only to provide the best aviation technical training, but to also continue these young men and women’s education as Sailors and Marines, and an event such as this is not only fun for the students, but reinforces the DoD stance on Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month and the provides tools on identifying and preventing sexual assault.”

The annual 5K run is designed as an educational event -- a proactive effort to instruct participating students about sexual assault resources, the role of alcohol in sexual assault, bystander intervention and supporting victims of sexual assault.

Mica Harrell, the NAS Pensacola Fleet and Family Support Center SAPR civilian victim advocate, said that the importance the DoD places on sexual assault is something the run reinforces at the most junior level.

“Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month is a military-wide venture, and making sure these young men and women are aware of how to deal with a situation and have the right tools to help their shipmates is imperative,” said Harrell. “The NATTC SAPRs have done an excellent job in stressing reporting procedures, identifying potential sexual assault scenarios and incorporated all of these into a fun event for the service members who represent the future of our Navy and Marine Corps.”

For more than 70 years, with the last two decades at NAS Pensacola, NATTC has been providing training and increasing readiness within the Naval Aviation Enterprise. The facility graduates approximately 15,000 Navy, Marine Corps and international students annually and is the largest training facility in the Navy after Recruit Training Command.

NATTC is part of the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training, which provides single site management for Navy and Marine Corps aviation technical training.

CNATT is the technical training agent for the Naval Aviation Enterprise, an organization designed to advance and sustain naval aviation warfighting capabilities at an affordable cost, and is the largest training center under the Naval Education and Training Command.

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