Sailors and civilians assigned to Commander, Naval Forces Korea took part in an innovative Sexual Assault and Prevention Response training event when actors from the InterACT troupe performed interactive skits and scenarios in Seoul and Chinhae, June 18-19.

InterACT, a social justice performance troupe, has provided innovative sexual assault intervention programs for Navy audiences around the world.

"I hope the audience takes away that they can always do something and that they don't have to not feel powerless in situations," said Nicole Snell, a lead facilitator for InterACT. "People can read or train in a classroom, but to apply in it real life is different and this can give people that real-life training to be able to find ways to intervene."

The actors performed for more than 250 Sailors, airmen, soldiers, Marines and civilians throughout the two-day event and not only presented the audience with complicated, realistic scenes regarding domestic violence and sexual assault, but also invited audience members onstage to practice intervention tactics.

"I liked the fact that it gave Sailors a chance to see the different types of situations among peers and how things can escalate and make victims feel worse," said Chief Personnel Specialist Deron Proctor. "It gave our Sailors more tools for their tool bags to help prevent sexual assaults."

Yeoman 2nd Class Latina Billings attended a performance in Chinhae and said she believes the training helped reinforce the need to intervene.

Billings said this training really showed how important it is to get people out of dangerous situations. It may be uncomfortable to confront someone, but it is important to act.

InterACT has been recognized for raising awareness about sexual assault, being highly involving, promoting emphatic and comforting responses from audience members, and providing a model where audience members can rehearse proactive behaviors that can potentially disrupt a sexual assault episode.

For more information on sexual assault prevention contact your command representative or visit www.sapr.mil.
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For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea, visit www.navy.mil/.