National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month
This MARADMIN designates April as National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month and encourages commanders to intensify efforts to increase awareness and prevent sexual assault. The message emphasizes the Marine Corps' commitment to prevention training, victim care, and offender accountability, while calling on all Marines to create an environment of dignity and respect consistent with core values.
Issued: April 13, 2005
1. APRIL IS SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS AND PREVENTION MONTH. SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE IS IMPORTANT, BOTH TO THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS. OVER THE PAST 18 MONTHS, THE MARINE CORPS HAS EVALUATED ITS PREVENTION AND RESPONSE MECHANISMS; IMPLEMENTED TRAINING ON SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE IN ENTRY LEVEL SCHOOLS, LEADERSHIP COURSES, AND ANNUALLY FOR ALL MARINES; ESTABLISHED A MULTIDISCIPLINARY OVERSIGHT OFFICE; AND PUBLISHED COMPREHENSIVE GUIDANCE IN REF (A). 2. THIS NATIONALLY DESIGNATED MONTH PROVIDES A PRIME OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMANDERS TO SHARPLY FOCUS ON THE PREVENTION OF THIS HEINOUS CRIME THAT IS SO DEMORALIZING TO INDIVIDUAL MARINES AND THEIR UNITS. PREVENTION TRAINING, PROPER AND DIGNIFIED CARE OF VICTIMS, AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF OFFENDERS ARE MUTUALLY REINFORCING WEAPONS IN THE MARINE CORPS EFFORT TO ELIMINATE SEXUAL ASSAULT FROM OUR RANKS. 3. COMMANDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO USE THIS MONTH TO INTENSIFY THEIR EFFORTS TO GET THE WORD OUT. COMMANDERS SHOULD NOT MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS, WHICH WILL DECREASE THE INCIDENCE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. 4. EVERY MARINE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH ALL MARINES ARE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT, BOTH ON AND OFF DUTY. SEXUAL ASSAULT DOES A DISSERVICE TO ALL THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE AND STOOD FOR OUR CORE VALUES: HONOR, COURAGE, AND COMMITMENT.