Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention is Not Just the Name of a Month
MCPON directs Chiefs Mess to get involved now
23 May 2013
The conversation regarding the prevention of sexual assault is not losing its voice. The vice chief of naval operations (VCNO) and the master chief petty officer of the Navy, along with other senior military leaders, recently met with the president to discuss the topic. Training has been conducted, campaigns have been launched and commands have invested time and energy into promoting sexual assault awareness and prevention. But despite the proposed solutions, the Navy, and subsequently the military, is still losing to the problem.
So much so that Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has recently ordered the services to retrain, re-credential and rescreen all sexual assault prevention and response personnel and military recruiters.
To help get to the left of this problem, MCPON Mike Stevens released an email to senior enlisted leadership hoping to course correct for the way ahead.
"When we are functioning at our best, we are family. And when that bond is violated because of something like sexual assault, we are broken," said MCPON Mike Stevens. "I still find it hard to understand why someone would be willing to lay down their life for their shipmate and then turn around and violate that shipmate in such a horrible way."
The MCPON admits to not having all the answers, but is calling on his Chiefs Mess to change the tide.
"During my nearly 30 years of service the one thing that has always stood out to me is that whenever the chiefs mess makes the decision to get after something we always make a difference," said Stevens.
In this case, MCPON wants his mess to get after sexual assault. He is directing his chiefs to continue the conversation each and every day - to talk to Sailors specifically about sexual harassment, assault, and sexist behavior. By making a commitment to the health and safety of Sailors, MCPON hopes Sailors will in turn make the same commitment.
"People deeply desire to serve our country and they should be able to serve with the dignity and respect that you and I know our Sailors share," said Stevens. "This isn't a high profile program and doesn't cost a bunch of money. This is good old fashioned Chief Petty Officer leadership. We are in this together. It is our duty."