Photo By Capt. Fernando Ochoa | Col. Andrew Wichers, 311th ESC deputy commander, and the units victim advocates Sgt....... read more read more
LOS ANGELES – Attended by the units company, an observance for Sexual Assault Awareness Month was held by the 311th Sustainment Expeditionary Command in its drill hall at the West Los Angeles headquarters May 5.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month is an annual campaign to raise public awareness about sexual assault and intended to educate communities and individuals on how to prevent sexual violence. It is observed every April.
Victim advocates from the 311th ESC took turns presenting videos and giving presentations about the importance of leadership accountability, effects of sexual harassment and assault, male victimization, victim advocacy care and legal support.
“We are here to bring awareness to the units’ Soldiers, noncommissioned officers and commanders,” said Sgt. 1st Class Jermaine Chandler, COC technician. “We want the troops to know that they are not alone.”
During SAAM, victim advocates raise awareness about sexual violence and educate communities and individuals on how to prevent it. In 2009, President Obama was the first United States president to proclaim April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
During one presentation, a video was shown where a young private told a story when she was in training. She had been sexual harassed and reported it and, at first, nothing was done. But, because she was Army strong, she did not back down and in the end she prevailed.
The lesson of that testimonial was that the leadership failed her. The lesson was that every Soldier is a safety officer and that every Soldier is a victim advocate.
“This is a very important presentation,” said Master Sgt. Judith Deunamuno, special operations NCOIC. “Sexual harassment and abuse is here and we must deal with it.”
The theme, slogan, resources and materials for the national SAAM campaign are coordinated by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center each year with assistance from anti-sexual assault organizations throughout the United States.
The teal ribbon was adopted as a symbol of sexual assault awareness and prevention.
| Date Taken: | 05.05.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 05.06.2014 10:53 |
| Story ID: | 128873 |
| Location: | LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 115 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, The 311th ESC observes Sexual Assault Awareness Month, by CPT Fernando Ochoa, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
