Photo By Scott Webb | Brig. Gen. Christine A. Beeler, Program Executive Officer for the U.S. Army's Program...... read more read more
Senior leaders for the U.S. Army’s Program Executive Office Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI) signed an official 2025 Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM) proclamation on April 2, reaffirming their commitment to the Army’s Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) program to kick off the annual observance.
Brig. Gen. Christine A. Beeler, Program Executive Officer (PEO) for PEO STRI, Deputy PEO Lee A. James III, SES, and PEO STRI Senior Enlisted Advisor Sgt. Maj. Tom Dow all signed the proclamation in front of a large crowd of Soldiers and Army civilians in Warfighter Park outside PEO STRI headquarters to emphasize the importance of the SHARP Program.
“It is imperative that we prevent sexual harassment and retaliation in the Army, report it if we see it, and provide professional, compassionate, and comprehensive care and support to those affected if these incidents do occur,” Beeler said. “These are our duties and responsibilities. We need to make sure that our actions are speaking for our commitment to sexual harassment and sexual assault prevention not just during April, but every day of the year.”
The official 2025 SAAPM theme is “Building Cohesive Teams through Character, Trust and Resilience.” Lee read the proclamation to the audience before all three senior leaders added their signatures.
The proclamation states, “We, the leadership and Soldiers of the U.S. Army’s Program Executive Office Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI), hereby reaffirm our commitment to creating a safe, respectful, and dignified environment for all. We will not tolerate sexual harassment or assault and are dedicated to preventing these behaviors and supporting those impacted.”
PEO STRI employees will observe “Teal Tuesdays” during the month April. Teal is the official color of SHARP and sexual violence prevention, symbolizing awareness, prevention, and support for survivors. T.E.A.L. stands for Togetherness, Empowerment, Advocacy, and Learning. Wearing teal is a way to show support for sexual assault survivors and raise awareness about this important issue.
On Thursday, April 17, PEO STRI will also host a 4K run and 1-mile walk to raise awareness of SHARP and promote camaraderie and esprit de corps. Additionally, Wednesday, April 23, has been designated as International “Denim Day” for Army Soldiers, civilians and contractors to wear jeans as a visible sign of support for sexual assault survivors and to raise awareness of the misconceptions surrounding sexual violence.
“This is a proclamation from your leadership team to all of you across the entire PEO,” Beeler said. “We are dedicated to taking care of our workforce, making sure you have a professional environment to work in, and making sure you have access to the resources you need, should you need them. Don’t ever hesitate to believe that Sgt. Maj., myself, Mr. James and all our leaders are committed to making sure that our workplace is the most resilient, safe and effective workplace in the United States Army.”
The Army and PEO STRI are dedicated year-round to Identifying, preventing and addressing sexual violence. Assistance for those experiencing harassment or who have been assaulted is available 24/7 through available resources such as calling the 24/7 DoD Safe Helpline at (877) 995-5247. For more information on the Army’s SHARP program, visit: https://www.armyresilience.army.mil/sharp/
| Date Taken: | 04.02.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 04.03.2025 08:54 |
| Story ID: | 494455 |
| Location: | ORLANDO, FLORIDA, US |
| Web Views: | 164 |
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