Photo By Cpl. Tanner Pittard | U.S. Marine Corps Col. Scott E. Stephan, commanding officer of 6th Marine Corps...... read more read more
MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. - On April 1, 2025, Marines and civilian leaders gathered for a proclamation signing at the district headquarters, not just as a formality, but as a clear statement: the Marine Corps remains fully committed to the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program.
While policy changes continue to shape the future of the force, one thing hasn’t change, our obligation to protect and support our Marines. “There’s been a lot of policy changes in the last couple of months,” said District Commanding Officer Col. Scott E. Stephen, “but sexual assault prevention is not going away, nor should it. We’re talking about taking care of our Marines and civilian Marines.”
That’s exactly what SAPR represents. For more than a decade, this program has stood as a cornerstone of the Marine Corps’ efforts to foster a culture of trust, accountability, and respect. It’s not just a program; it’s a reflection of our values as Marines. It’s about creating a command climate where every Marine and civilian feels safe and supported.
The proclamation signing was not only a reaffirmation of local commitment, but also part of a larger district-wide initiative to reinforce SAPR at all levels, from the Recruiting Stations to the Recruiting Sub-Stations. As Col. Stephen emphasized, “The Commandant and SgtMaj Ruiz are doubling down on this, we’re getting an additional SAPR billet at every O-6 command.” That investment shows the seriousness of this mission, not just maintaining progress, but building on it.
Adding billets means more trained professionals embedded within commands, where they can provide immediate support and continue the vital work of education and prevention. It means SAPR isn’t an afterthought, it’s integrated into the daily rhythm of the Marine Corps.
“We’re not going to give up the ground we’ve made over the last 10 years, getting this right, educating everybody, and setting the right environment,” Col. Stephen continued. That’s what this effort is about, holding the line. As Marines, we don’t retreat from hard fights. we adapt, we overcome, and we protect our own.
This proclamation may have been one moment, but it echoed a deeper truth: the SAPR mission is enduring. It’s about upholding the trust placed in us, by each other, by the public, and by the institution we serve. The Marine Corps doesn’t tolerate sexual assault, and it won’t back down from the responsibility to prevent it, respond to it, and support those affected by it.
This is how we take care of our people. This is how we lead. And this is how we stay true to the title we’ve all earned, United States Marine.
| Date Taken: | 04.01.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 04.23.2025 09:45 |
| Story ID: | 495370 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 17 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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