Naval Air Station Pensacola (NASP) joined other installations and their tenants across Commander, Navy Region Southeast (CNRSE) in proclaiming April as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM) April 3.

The objective of SAAPM is to demonstrate the continued commitment of the Navy in preventing sexual assault and other destructive behaviors, and also to show the Navy's continued commitment to survivors of sexual assault.

This year's SAAPM theme is: "Protecting Our People Protects Our Mission." In his address concerning sexual assault, NASP Commanding Officer Capt. Christopher Martin said, "It is a violation of everything that we stand for and it is an affront to the values we defend."

To the armed forces, people are its most valuable resource. As a result of sexual harassment harming individuals, it also harms operational effectiveness. It is imperative that servicemen and women also protect their fellow service members from unwanted and inappropriate advances.

Martin would like every victim who has and has not come forward to know that he, the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response team and senior command are there to care for and support them. They are there for sexual assault victims, not just this month but also every day of the year. They are committed to helping sexual assault victims heal and become survivors.

Martin pointed out that it is every person's obligation, regardless of their rank, service branch or command, to be committed to eliminating sexual assault from the military.

Until sexual harassment is completely eliminated from the military, those who are capable must do all that they can to prevent such a horrid and predatory practice.

"The Department of the Navy has come a long way in addressing sexual assault, but until we get to zero, there is still work to be done," Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer said in a recent release.

Lillie Johnson, one of the Sexual Assault Response Coordinators (SARCs) onboard NASP, said that the primary goal for SARCs like herself is prevention. The secondary goal, being no less important, is to provide services to victims so that they may heal and recover.

Intervention is the prerequisite for sexual assault prevention and Johnson would like to promote active intervention to the community. "If you see something, say something," she said.

For more information on SAAPM, go to www.navy.mil/saapm.

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For more news from Naval Air Station Pensacola, visit www.navy.mil/.