This document provides information about Sexual Assault Awareness Month from the Navy Office of Information. It discusses the Navy's zero tolerance policy toward sexual assault and efforts to prevent assaults, support victims, and hold offenders accountable. Specific initiatives discussed include bystander intervention training to teach sailors how to recognize and address inappropriate behaviors before they escalate. The document highlights ongoing events for Sexual Assault Awareness Month and provides statistics about reports of sexual assault in the Navy.

1. A product of...
Navy Office of Information
www.navy.mil
April 17, 2012
SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH—Week Three
"Sexual assault is a criminal act, first and foremost, but it's also one that can tear down the integrity of our units, and quite
frankly, we have no place for it in our United States Navy. We have to talk about it. We can't hide the facts.
We have to deal with this problem head on."
– Adm. Cecil E. Haney, Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet
Sexual assault prevention is an important element of the readiness area of the 21st Century Sailor and Marine
initiative, which consolidates a set of objectives and policies, new and existing, to maximize Sailor and Marine
personal readiness, build resiliency and hone the most combat-effective force in the history of the Department of the
Navy (DoN). DoN is working aggressively to prevent sexual assaults, to support sexual assault victims, and to hold
offenders accountable.
Sexual Assault Prevention is Everyone’s Duty
• The Navy maintains a zero tolerance policy toward sexual assault. Our goal is to eliminate sexual assault by
fostering a culture of prevention, which is created with effective education and training, a 24/7 response
capability to ensure victim support, standardized reporting procedures, and by holding perpetrators accountable.
• All Sailors must embody the core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment and eliminate behaviors that are
incompatible with a sexual assault-free environment. It is every Sailor’s responsibility to help eliminate this crime.
• Alcohol is present in nearly half of the sexual assault cases in the Navy. Responsible alcohol use examples set and
supported by the command leadership are critical in preventing sexual assault and other destructive behaviors.
Bystander Intervention (BI)
• BI training is part of a larger Navy-wide strategy addressing changes in attitudes and behaviors about sexual
assault. BI training teaches Sailors how to recognize inappropriate, coercive and harassing behaviors and when to
intervene, before a behavior moves further toward sexual violence.
• Every member of the Navy-Marine Corps team is responsible for creating a command climate that is intolerant of
sexual harassment and sexual assault.
• BI training and the Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions (CSADD) instill in Sailors that their
decisions can make a difference.
SAAM Week Two Highlights
• Adm. Harvey conducted a media roundtable April 10 to discuss SAAM initiatives.
• Naval Air Station Key West hosted an improvisational show April 9 aimed at sexual assault prevention.
• U.S. Naval Support Activity Bahrain recognized SAAM with an anti-violence march and ceremony April 12.
• Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CNAP) staff is participating in the Naval Base Coronado
Clothesline Project, a silent, self-expression exhibit aimed at increasing awareness of the sexual violence affecting
our military community.
Key Messages Facts & Figures
• 15-21 April: Prevention is Everyone's Duty. We must • The FY11 report on sexual assault was released Friday;
look out for our Shipmates and prevent harm. there were 610 reports of sexual assault last year.
• 22-30 April: We Will Not Tolerate Sexual Assault. My • One in six women have experienced an attempted or
problem, your problem, our problem. completed rape in their lifetime.
• Reporting remained stable between FY10 and FY11. • A total of 11,001 Sailors have taken part in BI training
• Join the conversation to raise awareness: #SAAM as of April 6.
• #Tweetaboutit Tuesdays, 2 P.M. EST w/ @NSVRC • There are 471 trained Navy BI facilitators as of April 6.
• The most powerful force behind preventing sexual • Bystander Intervention information can be found on
assault is YOU. NKO.