UNCLAS 221410Z MAR 07
CMC WASHINGTON DC(UC)
AL MARADMIN(UC)
MARADMIN
MARADMIN 216/07
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/MR//
SUBJ/SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH (SAAM)//
POC/DOUGLAS ALEXANDER/MAJ/MRRS/-/TEL:703-432-9073//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  APRIL IS SAAM.  THIS NATIONALLY DESIGNATED MONTH
HAS BEEN THEMED, "STAND UP AGAINST SEXUAL ASSAULT...MAKE A DIFFERENCE." 
THIS THEME HIGHLIGHTS THE ABILITY OF EVERY MARINE AND SAILOR TO HELP
PREVENT SEXUAL ASSAULTS BY REFUSING TO BE A BYSTANDER, AND MAKE A
DIFFERENCE IN ANOTHER SERVICEMEMBER'S LIFE.
SAAM PROVIDES MARINE CORPS LEADERS A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY TO FOCUS ON
SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS AND PREVENTION TRAINING.  SEXUAL ASSAULT IS A
CRIME AND ALL MARINES MUST STAND AGAINST CRIMINAL ACTIONS.
2.  THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND MARINE CORPS ARE EXECUTING A COORDINATED
ATTACK AIMED AT ERADICATING SEXUAL ASSAULTS.
HEADQUARTERS, MARINE CORPS SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE PROGRAM
TRAINED OVER 61 SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE COORDINATORS (SARC) AND OVER 1,500
UNIFORMED VICTIM ADVOCATES (UVA) AS PART OF THE FIRST RESPONDERS TEAM. 
FIRST RESPONDERS ARE AVAILABLE TO INCREASE SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS AND
CONDUCT PREVENTION TRAINING WITHIN THEIR COMMANDS.  THROUGH INCREASED SEXUAL
ASSAULT AWARENESS AND PREVENTION TRAINING, EVERY MARINE AND SAILOR CAN PLAY
AN ACTIVE ROLE IN ELIMINATING SEXUAL ASSAULTS.
3.  COMMANDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO FOCUS ON THOSE RISKY
BEHAVIORS REPEATEDLY LINKED TO SEXUAL ASSAULT, SUCH AS SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND
FAILURE TO USE THE BUDDY SYSTEM.  THE MAJORITY OF SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES IN THE
MARINE CORPS INVOLVE CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL BY ONE OR BOTH PARTIES.  SAAM
PROVIDES COMMANDERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REITERATE AND REINFORCE COMMAND POLICIES
ON ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION IN THE CONTEXT OF PREVENTION OF THESE CRIMINAL ACTS.
4.  THROUGH INCREASED SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS AND PREVENTION TRAINING, EVERY
MARINE AND SAILOR CAN "STAND UP AGAINST SEXUAL ASSAULT...MAKE A DIFFERENCE."//