Photo By Chief Petty Officer Janweb Lagazo | ATLANTIC OCEAN (April 12, 2016) Lt. j.g. Shelbie Koch, assigned to the guided-missile...... read more read more
By Seaman Janweb B. Lagazo, USS Mason (DDG 87) Public Affairs
ATLANTIC OCEAN (April 12, 2016) Sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG 87), assigned to the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (Ike CSG), joined the conversation on Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM) while underway.
Sexual assault is defined by the Navy as intentional sexual contact through use of force, threats, intimidation, and abuse of authority or when the victim does not or cannot consent.
“The purpose of SAAPM is to bring awareness to the deck plates of sexual assault and how to prevent sexual assault from occurring” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Amanda Blackman, Mason’s sexual assault prevention and response (SAPR) point of contact (POC).
The Navy offers two options for victims to report an alleged sexual assault – restricted and unrestricted.
Restricted reports must be made to designated personnel, such as the sexual assault response coordinator (SARC), a SAPR Victim Advocate (VA), a chaplain or health care professional. These reports will not be disclosed to the command or law enforcement but will give victims confidential access to medical care, forensic examination, advocacy and information.
“There are many victims that never come forward and struggle in silence,” Blackman said. “SAAPM helps give a voice and awareness to those individuals. Enhancing the ‘P’ in SAAPM is where my focus lies.”
Unrestricted reporting allows allegations to be brought before the victim’s chain of command, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), a command SARC and health care professionals. This type of reporting will lead to an investigation and provide the victim all the resources of restricted reporting.
“It’s important to be aware of the SAPR program and the resources that are offered to you through the program,” said Operations Specialist 2nd Class Jeffrey Cook, a SAPR VA aboard Mason.
Blackman goes on to explain that the events and activities planned during the month by her team helps in “raising the awareness of sexual assault” and that action in itself “aids in the prevention of sexual assault.”
Several Mason Sailors were asked to write their thoughts about sexual assault on a hand-held white board so they can be posted on Mason’s Facebook page to spread awareness to followers during the rest of the month.
Fire Controlman 1st Class Misty Wiggers, another of Mason’s SAPR VAs, organized a ribbon scavenger hunt that have “questions and/or facts about sexual assault and the SAPR program itself” attached to them. Mason Sailors have the opportunity to find the ribbons hidden throughout the ship and receive prizes for correctly answering the questions.
Wiggers stated that getting the information out there about how the program works and what services are available will encourage more people to come forward if something like that does happen to them.
“Most people are scared to discuss a sexual assault with someone for the simple fact that it makes them feel vulnerable and out in the open, or they have fears that others will find out,” Cook said. “As a VA, we are here to make sure that doesn't happen. We are here for a victim, offering a means to get counseling, medical treatment, and be an overall helping hand when it comes to navigating the aftermath of a sexual assault.”
Along with Mason, led by Cmdr. Christopher J. Gilbertson, Ike CSG includes the Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 10 staff, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26 staff, the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3, the guided-missile cruisers USS San Jacinto (CG 56) and USS Monterey (CG 61), and the DESRON 26: the guided-missile destoyers USS Stout (DDG 55), USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) and USS Nitze (DDG 94).
Join the conversation with Mason on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MASONDDG87/.
Find more information about Mason at www.navy.mil/local/ddg87.
| Date Taken: | 04.12.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 04.14.2016 17:34 |
| Story ID: | 195433 |
| Location: | ATLANTIC OCEAN |
| Hometown: | NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 97 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Mason Sailors Embrace Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, by CPO Janweb Lagazo, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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