R 152105Z MAR 13
UNCLASSIFIED/
MARADMIN 130/13
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MF//
SUBJ/NATIONAL OBSERVANCE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH//
POC/K. A. MOBLEY/MAJ/UNIT:MFB/-/TEL:703-432-9100//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  APRIL IS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AS SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH (SAAM).  THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROVED THE FOLLOWING THEME FOR SAAM 2013: "WE OWN IT...WE'LL SOLVE IT...TOGETHER." THE THEME REASSERTS THAT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PREVENTING SEXUAL ASSAULT BELONGS TO ALL MARINES.
2.  SEXUAL ASSAULT IS A CRIME THAT IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH MARINE CORPS VALUES OF HONOR, COURAGE, AND COMMITMENT.  NOT ONLY DOES IT UNDERMINE MISSION READINESS AND UNIT COHESION, SEXUAL ASSAULT RESULTS IN AN IRREVOCABLE LOSS OF FAITH IN THE INSTITUTION AND VIOLATES THE BASIC PRINCIPLES EVERY MARINE HAS SWORN TO UPHOLD AND DEFEND.  IN STEP WITH THE THREE-PHASE 2012 SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE (SAPR) CAMPAIGN PLAN, THE MARINE CORPS IMPLEMENTED LARGE-SCALE, CORPS-WIDE TRAINING INITIATIVES, UTILIZING A TOP-DOWN LEADERSHIP MODEL.  THE SAPR PROGRAM TRAINING MESSAGE CHARGES LEADERSHIP WITH ESTABLISHING AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS NON-PERMISSIVE TO ANY MISCONDUCT OR CRIME - ESPECIALLY SEXUAL ASSAULT - AND MAINTAINING THE HIGH STANDARD OF DISCIPLINE OF THE MARINE CORPS.  THIS REQUIRES HOLDING OFFENDERS APPROPRIATELY ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS, AS WELL AS REMAINING RECEPTIVE TO VICTIMS REACHING OUT FOR HELP AND PROVIDING THE BEST POSSIBLE CARE FOR MARINES IN NEED.
3.  IT IS THE INHERENT DUTY OF EVERY MARINE TO PREVENT SEXUAL ASSAULT.  TRAINING AT ALL LEVELS EMPHASIZES THAT THE ONLY SOLUTION TO SEXUAL ASSAULT IS A CONCERTED EFFORT BY EVERY MEMBER OF THE CORPS TO OWN THIS PROBLEM BY STEPPING IN WHEN A SITUATION CALLS FOR INTERVENTION.
4.  THE MARINE CORPS REMAINS COMMITTED TO REDUCING, WITH THE GOAL OF ELIMINATING, SEXUAL ASSAULT WITHIN ITS RANKS.  COMMANDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SHOW THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE SAPR PROGRAM BY SUPPORTING LOCALLY SCHEDULED EVENTS IN APRIL, AND ALSO THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
5.  RELEASED AUTHORIZED BY R. F. HEDELUND, DIRECTOR, MARINE AND FAMILY PROGRAMS DIVISION.//