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Military fights sexual assault with awareness, prevention

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Danielle Johnson
  • 305th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MCGUIRE AFB, N.J. --  In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a Joint Service SAAM luncheon was recently held at Club Dix to raise awareness and promote prevention of sexual violence in the military.

"The luncheon is an opportunity for our joint communities - McGuire AFB, Fort Dix and Lakehurst Naval Air Engineering Station - to collaborate our efforts to end sexual violence in the military," said Laure Brock, 305th Air Mobility Wing Sexual Assault Response Coordinator. "It was also an opportunity for us to celebrate the victim survivors amongst us and recognize significant Joint Service Sexual Assault Response Program accomplishments that further eliminate and prevent sexual violence within our military communities."

SAAM was first celebrated nationwide in April 2001, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center's Web site, www.nsvrc.org/saam. The 2008 national theme, "Prevent Sexual Violence ... in our workplaces", was designed to help employers recognize the role our work environments play in the prevention of sexual assault.

"Although sexual assault awareness and prevention is ongoing throughout the year, April is nationally known and designated as Department of Defense sexual assault awareness month," Ms. Brock said. "It's important because it's an opportunity to raise awareness in our military community, specifically within our workplaces."

"It highlights sexual violence as a major public health issue and reinforces the need for continued prevention efforts," she said. "It's the month that our military personnel can benchmark civilian communities focusing on national awareness of sexual violence issues."

The DoD SAAM theme for 2008 is "Ask, Act, Intervene". It encourages servicemembers to ask a friend if he or she needs help, act when they do, and intervene when there is trouble.

For more information on how to prevent or report a sexual assault, contact the SARC at (609) 754-2988. Confidential reports of sexual assault can also be made to the SARC hotline at (609) 203-6134.