Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Cynthia Clark | Fleet Master Chief (SW/AW) John Minyard collaborates with U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt....... read more read more
Subscribe
HONOLULU - Fleet Master Chief (SW/AW) John Minyard sat down with American Forces Network to send a message on sexual assault to the Pacific Fleet Thursday, April 18.
In observance of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, U.S. Navy leadership sent messages to sailors on how to prevent it. Fleet Minyard wanted his own message to reach sailors in the Pacific Fleet.
“You all have to have the courage to step in when you see something potentially going wrong. This is not easy to do because we’re all potential victims,” said Minyard. “When we use alcohol irresponsibly or find ourselves in a situation we’re uncomfortable with, we all become potential victims. I need each and every one of you to recognize this and have the moral courage to step in and potentially stop our shipmates from getting into a situation.”
According to Minyard, recognizing destructive behavior is only the first step. Sailors need embrace their core values and step in.
“Do you have that courage? Will you do the right thing? It is up to all of us to do this. We have to do everything we can to stop this situation,” he continued. “If you find someone – a friend, a shipmate – that just doesn’t seem comfortable in a situation, I ask that you step in. What’s the harm in acting? Shipmates, we can’t stop this crime, we can’t prevent these heinous crimes from ruining someone’s life through mental anguish.”
Fleet Minyard also stressed no one is immune to this crime and while stepping in may not be the popular thing, it is the right thing.
“I need you to trust your gut. I need you to trust your instincts when you’re out on liberty and you’re hanging out with your shipmates and your friends,” said Minyard. “I want you to step in and have the moral courage to act. This may be the toughest thing you’ll ever do, because this may be your best friend that is potentially going to be a perpetrator of this crime. By doing this, we will eventually change our climate and our culture and not allow these types of crimes to exist in our Navy.”
While sexual assault hurts everyone, Minyard is confident sailors and shipmates have the power to help each other and do something about it.
“This is one area that I know you can stop, I know you can do better and I’m asking your help as we continue in 2013 to prevent these crimes from happening. Thank you for your service, thank you to your families for their service, I wish you all the best,” Minyard said.
| Date Taken: | 04.18.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 04.19.2013 20:06 |
| Story ID: | 105519 |
| Location: | HONOLULU, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 106 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Fleet Master Chief Minyard speaks to the fleet on Sexual Assault Awareness Month, by PO1 Cynthia Clark, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
