Talleri signs domestic violence proclamation

Photo By Cpl. Brianna Christensen | Maj. Gen. Peter J. Talleri, commanding general of Marine Corps Installations Pacific and Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, signs the Domestic Violence Awareness Month proclamation with members of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Provost Marshal’s Office and the Counseling and Advocacy Program on Camp Foster, Sept. 28.  

CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, JAPAN

09.28.2011

Story by Pfc. Brianna Christensen 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP FOSTER, Japan - The Marine Corps Community Services Counseling and Advocacy Program held its annual Domestic Violence Awareness Month proclamation signing with Maj. Gen. Peter J. Talleri, commanding general of Marine Corps Installations Pacific and Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, here Sept. 28.

The signing is held each October to promote interest in domestic violence prevention among Marines and sailors island-wide.

“Domestic Violence Awareness Month is nationally recognized, and we hold this proclamation signing to stress the importance of promoting the need to prevent domestic violence,” said Rachel C. DiStefano, victim advocate, Counseling and Advocacy program, Camp Foster.

The Counseling and Advocacy program is also holding a self-defense workshop at Gunners Gym here Oct. 15, and an Awareness Day at the Camp Foster Exchange Oct. 29, in hopes of spreading the word about Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Research has shown that incidents of domestic violence are decreasing through education about available resources, said DiStefano.

Those resources include chaplains, victim advocacy programs, counseling, the Marine Corps Family Team Building program and life consultants.

“In my opinion the best way to prevent incidents is to get out and do things as a family from the very beginning,” said DiStefano. “Going out to family dinners and visiting foreign attractions together is a great way to strengthen family bonds and relieve stress.”

While educating service members about how to prevent domestic violence is a top priority, it is just as important to know how to report an incident if one should occur.

“There are two ways of reporting a domestic-violence incident,” said Jean Claffey, director of the Counseling and Advocacy program on Camp Foster. “Victims can file restricted or unrestricted reports.”

A restricted report must be reported to a mental health clinic, victim advocate, medical clinic or chaplain, and provides victims the opportunity for counseling and help without getting their command involved. An unrestricted report may initiate a full investigation by the victim’s command and law enforcement.

DiStefano said that while most domestic violence victims are believed to be women, it is important to be aware that men are also at risk.

“Research shows that 1.5 million women in the U.S. are assaulted each year compared to 850,000 men,” said DiStefano. “It is important to realize that research also shows that male incidents are under-reported.”

For more information, call the Counseling and Advocacy program at 645-2915, The National Domestic Abuse Hotline at 800-799-SAFE, or visit www.militaryonesource.com.

• Date Taken: 09.28.2011
• Date Posted: 10.05.2011 18:05
• Story ID: 78072
• Location: CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, JP