ARLINGTON, Va. - As the observance of Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month become a memory, the National Guard has shifted its focus toward encouraging prevention initiatives throughout the year.
"Our goal is nothing short of eliminating sexual assault across our ranks. This month's efforts raise awareness of something that for us is a year-round cause," said Maj. Gen. David S. Baldwin, California National Guard adjutant general, during a SAAPM commemoration event in April.
The National Guard has participated in the observance of Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month since the inception of the National Guard Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program in September 2005, although the journey to the present day program was not always easy.
Over the years, the Guard has met each challenge to develop a comprehensive multi-disciplinary SAPR program for the Title 32 force, focusing on the Joint Chiefs of Staff five Lines of Efforts. These include prevention, accountability, investigation, advocacy and victim assistance, and assessment. The activities, events,and programs implemented by each state and the National Guard Bureau in observance of SAAPM demonstrated a consistent resolve to elevate awareness, raise voices, act when inappropriate behaviors unfold, and to ultimately prevent sexual assaults within the force.
To encourage every leader in the Guard to become personally involved in state activities, the chief of the National Guard Bureau, along with the directors of the Air and Army National Guard, signed a memorandum that asked each Guard member to embrace the 2015 theme: "Eliminate Sexual Assault: Know Your Part. Do Your Part."
Many governors and adjutants general signed their own proclamations expressing sustained leadership focus and commitment to eliminating sexual assault from within the Guard ranks and to provide their support for the victims.
In North Carolina, a small Magnolia sapling was dedicated by the North Carolina National Guard assistant adjutant general-maneuver, Brig. Gen. James Ernst, as a symbol for survivors of sexual assault. "We must do our part and have the courage to act," he said during that dedication.
This same sentiment was echoed throughout the Guard in support of the SAAPM theme. Maj. Gen. Michael Calhoun, adjutant general of the Florida National Guard, in a message to his troops, said, "Only by working together will we achieve an environment free of sexual assault, where inappropriate behaviors are not condoned, tolerated or ignored; where bystanders intervene; where victims are supported and feel safe to report crimes; and where commanders hold offenders appropriately accountable."
Several activities occurred across the country for SAAPM, but which were also geared toward setting up prevention efforts. Many states posted videos to share specific messages on sexual assault and the importance of working together to make the necessary changes to eliminate it from the Guard.
Brig. Gen. Jefferson Burton, Utah adjutant general, in his video, said, "We are not going to accept it (sexual assault) in the Guard here in Utah at all; and we're going to do everything we can as the leadership to eliminate it. But I need your help to do that. It takes an entire team to make that happen."
Many states used social media, to include YouTube, SAPR Facebook pages, Flickr, and Twitter to post their SAAPM stories, messages and pictures of their activities.
Other states contacted local news media to share their activities. For example, the Wyoming National Guard coordinated with Cheyenne, KGWN, CBS 5 News Channel to cover its annual Joint Military 5K Run-Walk hosted by the Cheyenne Air National Guard in Wyoming. An article on "How Kentucky's National Guard Handles Sexual Assaults" was posted on April 22 on News 4, NBC Washington. This article used a question and answer format to highlight the changes made to the Kentucky Code of Military Justice pertaining to the investigation of sexual assault crimes.
Other activities shared in this forum included Camp Murray's SAAPM Run and BBQ in Washington state; Rhode Island's 7th Annual Obstacle Course Challenge; California's Falling for the Cause tandem skydiving event; numerous 5K runs and "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" events; participation in National Denim Day; stories shared on the signing of SAAPM proclamations, and making the connection between Force Protection and the principles applied to sexual assault and harassment within the force; and, a host of pictures and videos. The purpose of sharing this information was to highlight the National Guard's involvement and determination to engage all Guard members to make a personal pledge to elevate their awareness, raise their voice, and intervene to help bring an end to sexual assault.
Coordinated efforts between the state SAPR personnel and public affairs offices in New Jersey, Tennessee, Maine, Washington and Rhode Island helped produce videos based on scripts developed by the National Guard Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office. The videos focused on enhanced efforts to improve sexual assault reporting by men and on stories involving bystander intervention, core values and military ethos, personal responsibilities for the prevention of sexual assault, and understanding the effects of sexual assault on both men and women.
These initiatives conducted in April to support SAAPM have come after years of efforts by Guard leaders, SAPR personnel and Guard members to develop new ways to engage both the Guard and civilian communities to call attention to the need to raise awareness and provide support to victims of sexual assault.
In May, the Illinois National Guard was presented the "Moxie" Award for its extraordinary work for survivors of sexual assault by the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
During the ceremony, Maj. Gen. Daniel Krumrei, Illinois adjutant general, shared his priority when he took command of the Illinois National Guard.
"I told every readiness NCO, every senior leader, along with the senior enlisted advisor for the Army and Air National Guard that they are responsible for any perpetrator using and hiding behind the uniform," said Krumrei. "I made it very clear that those who choose to ignore an incident of sexual assault are just as responsible as the one committing the act and they will be disciplined as well."
Col. Rita Whitmire, chief of the National Guard Sexual Assault Prevention and Response office, says, "Sexual assault is a direct affront to our core values and tears at the fabric of trust among our service members. There remains little doubt that tremendous strides have been made in our overall response to incidents of sexual assault. However, while the progress made is encouraging, the National Guard acknowledges the need for continued growth and implementation of innovative preventive measures to produce the kind of progress made in these other areas."