Jill Loftus, director of Department of the Navy Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (DON SAPRO), visited Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella Sept. 16-18 with the InterACT performance in the base theater.

InterACT is a social justice performance troupe that has provided sexual assault intervention programs for universities, juvenile detention facilities, housing projects, after-school programs and rehabilitation centers.

During Loftus' visit, she also recorded a public service announcement (PSA) at American Forces Network (AFN) Sigonella. The message, which will air on AFN in both European and Pacific theaters, was focused around applying the Navy's core values of honor, courage and commitment when it comes to preventing sexual assault.

"There is no place for sexual assault in our Navy and Marine Corps," said Loftus. "We need to be there to step in when necessary and support those who have been victimized. We all must do our part to foster a culture based on professionalism and respect."

The message of this PSA is everybody has a responsibility and everybody needs to show up. When your shipmate needs you, be there for them.

"When [DON SAPRO] was initially established, we first wanted to make people aware that sexual assaults were happening in the Navy and Marine Corps," said Loftus. "Now, we need those same people to instinctively step in. We want it to be second nature for them to stop a potential sexual assault."

Nearly 80% of reported sexual assaults are "blue-on-blue," which means that service members are harming service members.

"If we make our command climates and environments not suitable for somebody assaulting other people, they will understand that somebody will step in, somebody will say 'no,' and somebody is going to stop them," said Loftus.

This PSA, along with other new initiatives, such as virtual reality simulators, mobile applications and a planned graphic novel, are part of DON SAPRO's way of communicating with younger Sailors and Marines. Loftus feels that it's working.

According to research by Loftus' office, from 2013 to 2014, there was a 30% decrease in incidents of sexual assault across the entire Department of the Navy. There was also a significant increase in the number of reports over that same period of time.

"We're seeing examples all over the world of Sailors and Marines intervening to prevent sexual assault," added Loftus. "Some off-duty bartenders in Key West, Florida, were telling me that they have Sailors and Marines that are intervening with tourists if they see someone slip something into a drink. They aren't just out to protect their shipmates, but they recognize a problem and know it's the right thing to do."

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