R 311958Z MAR 11

ALCOAST 141/11
COMDTNOTE 1754
SUBJ: SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH (SAAM)
A. SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE PROGRAM (SAPRP), COMDTINST
1754.10 (SERIES)
B. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 011440Z JUL 10/ALCOAST 346/10
1. SEXUAL ASSAULT IS A CRIME PUNISHABLE UNDER THE UCMJ. IT IS NOT
CONSISTENT WITH COAST GUARD (CG) CORE VALUES OF HONOR, RESPECT, AND
DEVOTION TO DUTY. IT IS DEVASTATING TO VICTIMS, AND ADVERSELY IMPACTS
UNITS, COMMANDERS, FAMILIES, AND FRIENDS.
2. THE CG HAS JOINED THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD) AND OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE NATION TO OBSERVE SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS
MONTH (SAAM) IN APRIL. THE 2011 THEME IS "HURTS ONE, AFFECTS
ALL...PREVENTING SEXUAL ASSAULT IS EVERYONES DUTY." THE PRIMARY
THEME IS A CONTINUATION OF THE 2010 THEME OF "HURTS ONE, AFFECTS
ALL." THIS PRIMARY THEME FOCUSES ON THE EFFECTS SEXUAL ASSAULT HAS ON
MISSION READINESS. IT PROVIDES SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE COORDINATORS
(SARC) AND SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE VICTIM ADVOCATES
(VA) THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH COMMANDERS AND SENIOR ENLISTED
LEADERS ABOUT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN MISSION READINESS AND PREVENTING
THIS CRIME.
3. THE SECONDARY CAMPAIGN THEME IS "PREVENTING SEXUAL ASSAULT IS
EVERYONES DUTY." THIS THEME FOCUSES ON THE IMPORTANCE OF BYSTANDER
INTERVENTION, A STRATEGY THE ARMED FORCES HAS LAUNCHED TO ENCOURAGE
SERVICE MEMBERS TO PREVENT SEXUAL ASSAULT. ACTIVE BYSTANDERS TAKE THE
INITIATIVE TO HELP THOSE WHO MAY BE TARGETED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT OR TO
HELP FRIENDS FROM BECOMING OFFENDERS IN THE CRIME OF SEXUAL ASSAULT.
4. IN ADDITION TO JOINING WITH DOD, THE CG IS STANDING UP A SEXUAL
ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE TASK FORCE. THIS TASK FORCE WILL BE
CHAIRED BY THE DEPUTY COMMANDANT FOR MISSION SUPPORT AND MASTER CHIEF
PETTY OFFICER OF THE COAST GUARD TO OVERSEE ENHANCEMENTS TO THE CG
SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE PROGRAM.
5. REFS A AND B CONTAIN SPECIFIC GUIDANCE ON REPORTING SEXUAL
ASSAULT, INCLUDING AVAILABLE REPORTING OPTIONS OF RESTRICTED
(CONFIDENTIAL) AND UNRESTRICTED REPORTING AND WHOM TO CONSULT FOR
EXPERT ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE. IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE ACT
AS GOOD SHIPMATES AND REPORT SEXUAL ASSAULTS TO PROPER AUTHORITIES IN
AN ATTEMPT TO STOP SEXUAL PREDATORS.
6. MEMBERS IMPACTED BY SEXUAL ASSAULT DO NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS
ALONE. THE TIME AFTER A SEXUAL ASSAULT MAY BE DIFFICULT AND MAKING
DECISIONS MAY BE A CHALLENGE. THE CG SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND
RESPONSE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO HELP. A SARC, VA, MEDICAL PROVIDER OR
CHAPLAIN CAN BE OF SIGNIFICANT ASSISTANCE DURING THIS TIME.
7. A NEW INITIATIVE AVAILABLE AS OF 01 APRIL 2011 IS THE "SAFE
HELPLINE." THE SAFE HELPLINE IS A NEW CRISIS SUPPORT SERVICE FOR
ADULT SERVICE MEMBERS AFFECTED BY SEXUAL ASSAULT. THE SAFE HELPLINE
PROVIDES LIVE, ONE-ON-ONE EXPERT ADVICE AND INFORMATION. AVAILABLE
GLOBALLY 24/7, USERS CAN LOG ON TO TO WWW.SAFEHELPLINE.ORG TO RECEIVE
LIVE ONE-ON-ONE CONFIDENTIAL ASSISTANCE WITH A TRAINED PROFESSIONAL
THROUGH A SECURE INSTANT MESSAGING FORMAT. A SECOND OPTION IS TO CALL
THE TELEPHONE HOTLINE AT (877)995-5247 TO SPEAK WITH SAFE HELPLINE
STAFF FOR PERSONALIZED ADVICE AND SUPPORT. SAFE HELPLINE STAFF CAN
ALSO TRANSFER CALLERS TO AREA SARCS, VICTIM ADVOCATES, CIVILIAN RAPE
CRISIS CENTERS OR THE SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE. THE THIRD OPTION
IS FOR USERS TO TEXT THEIR LOCATION TO 55-247 (INSIDE THE U.S.) OR
(202)470-5546 (OUTSIDE OF THE U.S.) TO RECEIVE AUTOMATED CONTACT
INFORMATION FOR THEIR AREA SARC.
8. ALL SARCS ASSIGNED TO OUR HEALTH, SAFETY AND WORK-LIFE FIELD
LOCATIONS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED SAAM MATERIALS TO HELP CHAMPION THE
MESSAGE OF PREVENTION AND THE CRITICAL TIE TO MISSION READINESS. THE
MATERIALS INCLUDE CG-SPECIFIC POSTERS AND FACILITATOR GUIDES FOR THE
SARCS TO USE DURING TRAINING AND BRIEFINGS WITH UNITS WITHIN THEIR
AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY. UNITS MUST PROMOTE SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION
AND RESPONSE EDUCATION TO BE EFFECTIVE AND PREVENT THESE CRIMES. IN
ADDITION TO THE SARC AT THE NEAREST HEALTH, SAFETY AND WORK-LIFE
REGIONAL OFFICE, RESOURCES AND INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT
WWW.SAPR.MIL, THEN CLICK ON THE LINK FOR SAAM 2011 MATERIALS. OTHER
SEXUAL ASSAULT INFORMATION IS LOCATED AT WWW.USCG.MIL/WORKLIFE UNDER
THE SEXUAL ASSAULT ICON.
9. THE CG IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ARE
PROTECTED, TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT, AND PROVIDED ONGOING
SUPPORT. THE CG IS ALSO COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT PERSONS WHO COMMIT
CRIMES ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. COMMANDING OFFICERS AND
OFFICERS-IN-CHARGE SHALL ENSURE THAT POLICIES CONTAINED IN REFS A AND
B ARE CLEARLY COMMUNICATED TO THEIR PERSONNEL, AND ARE ENFORCED.
10. POC: SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE PROGRAM MANAGER, MS.
SHAWN WREN AT (202)475-5163 OR EMAIL: SHAWN.M.WREN(AT)USCG.MIL.
11. RADM MARK J. TEDESCO, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, SAFETY, AND
WORK-LIFE, SENDS.
12. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.