R 071737Z MAR 11
MARADMIN 149/11
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MF(UC)//
SUBJ/NATIONAL SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH (SAAM)//
POC/MELISSA COHEN/NF-05/UNIT:MFC3/-/TEL:(703) 432-9357//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  THE MONTH OF APRIL IS RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY AS SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH (SAAM). THIS YEAR'S THEME, "HURTS ONE-AFFECTS ALL. PREVENTING SEXUAL ASSAULT IS EVERYONE'S DUTY--MARINES ALWAYS TAKE A STAND." THIS STATEMENT DRAWS ATTENTION TO THE EMOTIONAL IMPACT OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, WHILE HIGHLIGHTING THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERY MARINE TO INTERVENE OR REQUEST ASSISTANCE TO PREVENT SEXUAL ASSAULTS. ACTIVITIES PROMOTING THIS THEME WITH PREVENTION AND AWARENESS EVENTS ARE ENCOURAGED AT ALL MARINE CORPS INSTALLATIONS AND COMMANDS.
2.  SEXUAL ASSAULT IS A CRIME. IT HAS NO PLACE IN A CULTURE DEFINED BY MEN AND WOMEN COMMITTED TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF PERSONAL CONDUCT, MORALITY, AND RESPECT FOR OTHERS. THE MARINE CORPS RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY 300 REPORTS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IN FY 2010. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. EVERY MARINE HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW WHAT CONSTITUTES SEXUAL ASSAULT AND HOW TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO PROTECT THEMSELVES, AS WELL AS THEIR FELLOW MARINES.
3.  WE ARE COMMITTED TO DEVELOPING A CORPS-WIDE CLIMATE OF TRUST AND CONFIDENCE TO ENCOURAGE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT TO REPORT THE CRIMES AGAINST THEM. MARINES SHOULD TRUST THAT THE MARINE CORPS WILL RESPOND APPROPRIATELY, TREATING VICTIMS WITH DIGNITY AND CONFIDENTIALITY. HELPLINES HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED ACROSS THE INSTALLATIONS AND MARFORRES TO PROVIDE VICTIMS 24/7 ACCESS TO TRAINED PERSONNEL, CRITICAL INFORMATION AND SUPPORT.
4.  COMMANDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR COMMITMENT TO REDUCING AND, ULTIMATELY, ELIMINATING THE CRIME OF SEXUAL ASSAULT FROM WITHIN OUR RANKS. OUR COLLECTIVE MESSAGE IS THAT EVERY MARINE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PREVENTING SEXUAL ASSAULT.
5.  THIS MARADMIN IS APPLICABLE TO THE TOTAL FORCE.
6.  POCS: NF-5 MELISSA COHEN, (703) 432-9357, MELISSA.COHEN(AT)USMC.MIL); NF-4 GAIL REED, (703) 784-9479, GAIL.REED(AT)USMC.MIL.
7.  RELEASED AUTHORIZED BY BGEN R. F. HEDELUND, DIRECTOR, MARINE AND FAMILY PROGRAMS DIVISION.//