April events at Fort McCoy raise awareness of sexual assault, child abuse

Courtesy Photo | A runner and a member of the Fort McCoy Army Ten-Miler team crosses the finish line during the April Showers 5k Run on April 13, 2017, at Fort McCoy, Wis. The run was the first qualifying race for potential Ten-Miler team members. The Fort McCoy Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation team was critical in helping establish the team. (U.S. Army Photo by Sarah Wiedenfeld, Directorate of Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation, Fort McCoy, Wis.)  

FORT MCCOY, WISCONSIN, UNITED STATES

03.22.2018

Courtesy Story

Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office           

April is a busy month for observances. Fort McCoy has a number of activities planned to celebrate and bring awareness to these observances.

Alcohol Abuse Awareness Month, Autism Awareness Month, Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Month are all in April.

Guest speaker Kelse Nablina will speak to Fort McCoy community members 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. April 11 about her experiences as a survivor of human trafficking.

Nablina, who has worked as a mental health specialist and addiction counselor, will share information about how to identify victims of human trafficking and how to help them.

Garrison personnel who attend the event can receive credit for substance-abuse, Family Advocacy Program, and in-person Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention training. Advance registration is not required.

For more information, call 608-388-3505.

The April Showers 5k Run/Walk will be at 2:30 p.m. April 18 at Rumpel Fitness Center to raise awareness of child abuse and sexual assault.

The event is free and open to all Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation patrons. One- and 2-mile routes are available for those who wish to participate in the walk.

Medals will be given to the top participants, and a Commander's Challenge Award will be given to the organization with the most registered participants, including military members, civilians, and Family members. Participants are encouraged to wear blue or teal.

Registration is required by April 11. For more information, call 608-388-3200.

Fort McCoy will participate in Denim Day, an international event to raise awareness and show support for sexual-assault survivors.

The campaign was originally triggered by an Italian case in which a rape conviction was overturned because the justices felt that because the victim was wearing tight jeans, she must have helped her rapist remove her jeans, thereby implying consent.

Peace Over Violence runs the campaign on the last Wednesday in April in honor of Sexual Violence Awareness Month. For more information about Denim Day, visit www.denimdayinfo.org.

Garrison civilian employees are approved to wear jeans April 25. Civilians and Soldiers working for tenant organizations should contact their leadership for permission to participate.

(Article prepared by the Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office.)

• Date Taken: 03.22.2018
• Date Posted: 03.22.2018 10:45
• Story ID: 270245
• Location: FORT MCCOY, WISCONSIN, US