MSC raises SAAM awareness

By Masha Rumer
MSC Public Affairs

Military Sealift Command dedicated the month of April to educating its community worldwide about sexual assault, as part of Navy-wide efforts to promote Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

The command displayed posters and circulated educational information about sexual assault and its frequent precursor, sexual harassment. While the Navy required all uniformed personnel to attend two training workshops, MSC held four workshops for its uniformed Sailors worldwide, including 55 uniformed personnel at MSC headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Workshops featured informational videos and discussion about the contributing causes and the far-reaching impact of sexual assault.

Even one incident of sexual assault is too many. The Navy has multiple resources available for victims.

Supervisors, equal opportunity advisors and the sexual assault victim advocate within every Navy command are all available to help.

Victims of sexual assault can proceed in two ways. They can file a restricted report, which will neither lead to investigation nor disclose the names of the involved parties to the command. The command's victim advocate, sexual assault response coordinator, medical examiner and the chaplain all fall under the umbrella of confidentiality, for both Sailors and civilians.

Alternatively, sexual assault victims can file an unrestricted report, which will begin an investigation and alert the chain of command for both the victim and the accused. At any point, victims may make their restricted report unrestricted.

DOD contacts:

• Text zip code or installation/base name to 55-247 within continental United States or to (202) 470-5546 outside the country
• Call the DOD Safe Helpline at (877) 995-5247. Calls are anonymous.
• Chat online anonymously @ safehelpline.org

Within MSC:

• PSCS(SW/AW) Shannon Coleman, MSC Worldwide Sexual Assault Program Coordinator and Force Equal Opportunity Advisor, (202) 685-5138
• Sexual Assault Victim Advocate, IT1 Antoinette DeBouse, (202) 685-5709