WASHINGTON (NNS) -- As part of the Navy's continuing efforts to eliminate sexual assaults and promote positive culture changes within the fleet, the Chief of Naval Personnel announced June 28 the creation of new Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) training.
For the first time, targeted and comprehensive sexual assault prevention training will be delivered to every active and reserve uniformed member in the Navy. The training follows the Navy's all-hands efforts for Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April, during which all Sailors from commands around the world took part in focused stand-down sessions highlighting varying aspects of sexual assault and each Sailors' role in eliminating this crime.
The training will also complement the Navy's multi-faceted approach to education and awareness; prevention and intervention; victim advocacy and resiliency; and investigation and accountability.
Training programs have been developed for command leadership (SAPR-Leadership) and for the Fleet as a whole (SAPR-Fleet). The wide-sweeping reach of this initiative ensures that all Sailors are motivated and able to intervene to stop sexual assault, according to Rear Adm. Martha Herb, Director of Personnel Readiness and Community Support.
Embedded in the response portion of SAPR-L, representatives of the Office of the Judge Advocate General's Corps will provide facilitated training on the Secretary of Defense's new initiatives regarding Summary Court-Martial Convening Authority and the new changes to the Uniform Code of Military Justice as they pertain to SAPR.
"In the last fiscal year alone, the Navy received 582 reports of sexual assault, affecting Sailors across all ranks. This crime is corrosive to both our morale and to our operational readiness," said Herb. "Just as all Sailors are affected, all hands must work together to reduce and ultimately eliminate these crimes."
"Both SAPR-L and SAPR-F training will provide our team the critical tools to eliminate sexual assault and promote the Navy's core values of honor, courage and commitment that define our culture of respect and professionalism," continued Herb.
NAVADMIN 199/12 details the process for fleet-wide training. Starting Jul. 16, Master Mobile Training Teams (MMTTs) qualified by the Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD) will deploy globally to provide SAPR-L preparation training to command leadership triads (commanding officer/officer in charge, executive officer/assistant officer in charge and command master chief/chief of the boat/senior enlisted advisor) in Fleet concentration areas and locations with significant Navy presence.
After receiving the MTT training, command triads will return to their units and provide SAPR-L training to their khaki leadership (E7 and above) through interactive video and facilitated face-to-face discussions. This 2-hour training course is designed to raise leaders' awareness about the reality of sexual assault in the Navy and emphasize their key prevention and response roles, provide leaders with tools and techniques to prevent assaults.
To ensure all hands are trained, command leadership will then deliver SAPR-F training to all Sailors E6 and below. This training will focus on the importance of bystander intervention and will equip Sailors with the knowledge and skills necessary to engage, address and positively impact behavior at the deckplate level. Additional guidance on SAPR-F training will be presented to the Fleet in a future message.
"Not only are SAPR-L and SAPR-F part of the Secretary of the Navy's 21st Century Sailor and Marine initiative, but support for this initiative from the top down to the deckplate will enable our Navy to create command climates and environments based on mutual respect, trust and professional relationships," added Herb. "This training is a lynchpin in eliminating sexual assault crimes within out ranks."
Completion of all SAPR training will be reported using the Fleet Training Management Planning System (FLTMPS). Commands are required to complete SAPR-L training by Sept. 30 and SAPR-F training no later than Dec. 31.
Commands may access Navy SAPR-L and SAPR-F training information, policy information, training schedules and locations, FAQs, and FLTMPS reporting instructions at www.sapr.navy.mil. The site is also where command leadership triads register for SAPR-L preparation training.
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.
