R 061627Z APR 09
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 0224/09
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/MR//
SUBJ/NATIONAL SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH (SAAM)//
POC/BRUNEAU R.N./YA-3/MRRS/-/TEL:703-432-9104//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  THE MONTH OF APRIL IS RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY AS SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH (SAAM).  A GOAL OF SAAM IS TO RAISE SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS AND PREVENTION WHILE DRAWING ATTENTION TO THE EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL EFFECTS SEXUAL ASSAULT HAS ON ITS VICTIMS.  SINCE 2005, THE MARINE CORPS HAS RECEIVED OVER 200 REPORTS OF SEXUAL ASSAULTS PER YEAR.  SEXUAL ASSAULT IS A CRIME DEFINED AS INTENTIONAL SEXUAL CONTACT CHARACTERIZED BY THE USE OF FORCE, PHYSICAL THREAT, OR ABUSE OF AUTHORITY WHEN THE VICTIM DOES NOT OR CANNOT CONSENT.  THIS YEARS THEME MY STRENGTH IS FOR DEFENDING CHALLENGES THE BYSTANDER TO INTERVENE AND PREVENT SEXUAL ASSAULTS.  THIS THEME ACCURATELY ACKNOWLEDGES THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERY MARINE TO PREVENT SEXUAL ASSAULT, BY TAKING APPROPRIATE ACTION AND REFUSING TO BE A PASSIVE BYSTANDER.  THIS IS AN IDEAL OPPORTUNITY FOR LEADERSHIP TO FOCUS ATTENTION ON METHODS EVERY MARINE CAN PRACTICE TO PREVENT SEXUAL ASSAULT WITHIN THE CORPS.
2.  BOTH THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD) AND THE MARINE CORPS PLACE HIGH VALUE ON SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE EFFORTS AS A WAY TO REINFORCE THE GOOD ORDER AND DISCIPLINE NECESSARY FOR AN EFFECTIVE FIGHTING FORCE TO ACCOMPLISH ITS MISSION.  AS MARINES WE TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN! THERFORE, AS MARINES WE SHOULD INTERVENE WHEN WE OBSERVE A FELLOW MARINE PARTICIPATING IN CONDUCT THAT VIOLATES OUR CORE VALUES.  IN THE MARINE CORPS, IN MOST SOCIAL SETTINGS PRIOR TO THE SEXUAL ASSAULT THE INTERACTION BETWEEN VICTIM AND OFFENDER IS RARELY UNOBSERVED BY OTHERS.  MARINES! IN THE LATTER SITUATION ACTIVELY ENGAGED BYSTANDERS CAN PREVENT SEXUAL ASSAULTS.
3.  DURING THE LAST 4 YEARS, THE MARINE CORPS HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT ADVANCES IN VICTIM SUPPORT THROUGH MANDATED SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS AND PREVENTION TRAINING AS WELL AS THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FIRST RESPONDERS WHO PROVIDE CARE AND SUPPORT TO VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT.  THE MARINE CORPS HAS TAKEN THESE STEPS TO HELP CREATE A "CLIMATE OF CONFIDENCE" WHERE MARINES TRUST THAT THE CORPS WILL RESPOND APPROPRIATELY WHEN A SEXUAL ASSAULT IS REPORTED, AND WILL SUPPORT THE VICTIM'S RECOVERY.
4.  THE LAST WEEK OF APRIL HAS BEEN DESIGNATED MARINE WEEK BY OSD-SAPRO.  COMMANDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE TIME DURING THE LAST WEEK OF APRIL TO REINFORCE OUR STRONGEST WEAPONS IN COMBATING THIS TYPE OF CRIME:  PREVENTION TRAINING; INCREASED AWARENESS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ISSUES; PROPER AND DIGNIFIED CARE OF VICTIMS; AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF OFFENDERS.  EVERY MARINE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PREVENTING SEXUAL ASSAULT BY NOT TOLERATING SUCH BEHAVIOR.
5.  RELEASED AUTHORIZED BY NF6 (SES) T. R. LARSEN, DIRECTOR, PERSONAL AND FAMILY READINESS DIVISION.//