Navy base wraps up annual sexual awareness and prevention month

Naval Air Station Fallon wrapped up Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM) last week with a tug-of-war and a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle pull.

Upon conclusion, the winners from the various SAAPM contests were announced during the closing ceremonies conducted at the base football field.

“Sexual assault or any sexual violence is an intolerable and violent crime that impacts mission readiness,” said Commanding Officer Capt. David Halloran. “It is an affront to our core values and incongruent with our mission here. We need every Sailor and civilian here to ‘step up, and step in’ when something looks off, or if they witness an act of sexual violence. We need to look out for our shipmates. Our Navy is a team and we need to take care of each other.”

NASF themes for the month, “In the Desert, Never Deserted” and “Never Leave an At-Risk Shipmate” joined Navy leadership’s “Eliminate Sexual Assault: Know your part. Do your part” theme to culminate a month-long awareness campaign designed to build momentum for year-round efforts to eliminate the crime of sexual assault, while making sure all Sailors are treated with dignity and respect.

“We must continue to commit ourselves to increasing awareness by educating our sailors and their families of the prevalence and frequency of this crime and expanding support for victims,” said Installation Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, Jeannette Casillas. “It is essential for all of our military members, civilians, and government employees to take action, by stepping up, stepping in and stomping out sexual violence in our military community. Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month is about supporting the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program, talking about sexual violence, challenging the harmful myths associated with sexual assault, while being agents of change.

“We must intervene when there is a potential for a sexual assault in order to make our military installation safer from sexual violence,” said Casillas.

2016 SAAPM events started March 30, with the signing of the SAAPM Proclamation by NASF and tenant command leadership. There was a “Kick-off Field Day” April 1 that included the SAPR Warrior Obstacle Course Challenge. The rest of the month’s activities included a fitness challenge, a scavenger hunt, self-defense classes, a 5K color run and Denim Day, ending with the closing ceremonies and the SAPR Tug-of-War and MRAP pull.

“These events really help bring awareness to SAAPM,” said Yeoman Seaman Bruce Dillard. “It’s because the message is tied to the event. Down the road when the participants are remembering the good times [they] had on the obstacle course, or during the run, they’ll remember they need to do their part to stomp out sexual assault.”