Photo By Jerome Mapp | Sgt. 1st Class Celeste Holley stands with a sign, declaring her stand against sexual...... read more read more
FORT BRAGG, NC. -- Womack Army Medical Center (WAMC) and the 44th Medical Brigade are partnering this year to raise awareness for the prevention of sexual assault during Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM). This year’s theme is “Prevention Starts With You.”
“The 2022 SAAPM Theme Prevention starts with you is important because it holds everyone accountable to help to shape and mold the culture of the Army and how we ALL can contribute to ending Sexual Assault and Harassment,” said Shalena Brown SHARP Victim Advocate with the 44th Medical Brigade. “Prevention isn’t as complex as most people make it seem. It starts with any individual understanding that you have a responsibility to set a standard, that sexual in nature acts of any kind will not be tolerated.”
Brown provides an example of what this may look like.
“The moment you don’t stop a bad joke, or you overlook an inappropriate situation, you have in some way failed to prevent future acts from occurring.” said Brown.
To further recognize SAAPM, volunteers participated in a freeze mob exercise at the North Post Commissary on April 14. Participants stood still holding a sign that represented the stand they took for two minutes.
This is not the first year that they are doing this exercise in an attempt to motivate others to recognize and take action in sexual assault prevention. This same exercise will take place at WAMC on April 25, 2022.
“I started in April of 2018, the boldness of individuals taking a stance, stopping, standing still and devoting their time to SHARP, even if for two minutes speaks to their personal dedication to sexual assault prevention and awareness,” said Brown.
Their plan, is to reach the majority of the population on the installation, to include family members. This effort is to make them aware of the services provided and a gentle reminder that they qualify for these services.
Maura Bradshaw is the sexual assault response coordinator at Womack Army Medical Center.
“It allows WAMC and the 44th Medical Brigade to raise awareness across the installation, not just within our brigades, so that everyone who qualifies for services will be aware of it. Even for those who do not qualify, we want to create a culture of awareness,” Bradshaw said.
“Many people are not familiar with the idea that SHARP can provide services to family members over the age of 18.” said Bradshaw.
Bradshaw explains why SHARP is both a prevention and a response program, and seeks to dismiss fears regarding reporting.
“Proactive is always better than reactive, if we can work both of those, hopefully we will be able to see the kind of decrease in cases that everybody wants to see across the board,” Bradshaw said. “We want to see a holistic program that may help us move towards our goal of eliminating sexual harassment and sexual assault across the armed services.”
Bradshaw addresses the fears concerning sexual harassment and the support available for those affected.
“The number one fear that we know is ‘Not being believed,’ that is what we see for those of us who work in the field, whether it is advocacy, medical or any other disciplines,” said Bradshaw.
Their hope is to encourage those who may have a story to know that they will be heard.
“To those that are holding a story, when you feel ready to come forward, the SHARP team is here to support you, and you will be believed,” Bradshaw said. “Law enforcement starts from the place of believing, and the medical team will be there to tend to your medical needs, WAMC is the center of excellence for forensic medicine.”
The prevention of sexual assault and prevention is dependent on each individual, and the position they decide to take.
Army Sgt. 1st Class Miguel Velez is the sexual assault response coordinator with the 44th Medical Brigade.
“Please do your part in ensuring that you take accountability, to take action when you see something that is wrong,” Velez said. “Intervention is essential in attacking this problem from a proactive approach.”
For more information contact the SHARP 24/7 Hotline at 910-584-4267 or the DOD Safe Helpline, call 877-995-5247.
| Date Taken: | 04.14.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 04.19.2022 15:33 |
| Story ID: | 418663 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 107 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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