Theater-style scripted scenarios and audience participation from Training Support Center (TSC) students added a unique and memorable change from lecture-style training for those who attended Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) events Feb. 7-9.

"Pure Praxis is a social justice theatre group dedicated to cultural change," said Matt Gardner, program administrator for Pure Praxis. "The show is focused on sexual assault prevention and retaliation prevention following a sexual assault. It instills social change, encouraging people to act and step in to difficult situations, standing up for survivors and for those in need of help."

The Long Beach, California-based social theater group called Pure Praxis, contracted by the Department of Defense and the Navy's Office of Sexual Assault and Prevention, worked hands on with the audience covering sexual assault topics including re-victimization, harassment, awareness, and empathy.

"SAPR training throughout the ranks is vitally important," said Capt. Mark Meskimen, commanding officer of TSC. "We (Navy) need to eliminate and bring awareness to the impacts of sexual assault. It all starts with training and informing individuals what sexual assault is."

SAPR training is meant to educate Sailors on the role their decision-making has on sexual assault prevention. SAPR also aims to help members understand the reporting options available to victims of sexual assault, as well as where to go for help.

"When students initially arrive at TSC, they get a lot of intervention and SAPR training," said Navy Military Training Instructor (NMTI) Chief Fire Controlman Daniel Erickson, SAPR command liaison for TSC. "Throughout the year we also hold additional training. The method that this training is presented gets the Sailors more interested and involved than just a petty officer or chief standing in front of a crowd lecturing."

The scenario portrayed by Pure Praxis depicted Sailors reacting to a reported sexual assault between shipmates. Sailors are first observers, then are introduced into the situation. After the scenario the narrator asked for suggestions of what could be done during the situation which was acted out, and then those Sailors were brought on stage to enact their answers.

"Training provides some of the critical tools to reduce sexual assault and promote a culture of respect and professionalism within TSC and our Navy as a whole, where each member is motivated to intervene and stop this crime," Meskimen said.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Training Support Center, Great Lakes, visit http://www.navy.mil/.