Photo By Sgt. Steven Peterson | Joint Base Lewis-McChord military members, family members and DOD civilians took part...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - I Corps kicked off their Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month with a comedy show for military service members, families and Department of Defense civilians at Carey Theater on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, April 7.
The show featured comedian Bernie McGrenahan, who brought a lighter touch to a subject that is no laughing matter.
Before the comedy show, Command Sgt. Maj. James P. Norman, command sergeant major, I Corps, spoke with attendees about the importance of sexual assault awareness and prevention.
“If you see something that doesn’t look right, have the intestinal fortitude to say something - you can prevent something bad from happening,” said Norman. “If we police up our formations, we will eliminate sexual misconduct from our formation.”
In an effort to further decrease the number of sexual assaults and continue to increase reporting when they do occur, “America’s Corps” is stepping up efforts to eliminate the behaviors that create an environment conducive to sexual assault with multiple events and training throughout the year.
There are 11 other calendar months in the year, and this isn’t the only time we should stress prevention of sexual harassment and assault, said Norman.
During the comedy show, McGrenahan told life stories and joked about his misfortunes, drinking and bad choices he made. While he made lots of jokes, he still got his point across.
“It was different, good, but more relaxing and not boring,” Pfc. Katareena Lorber, military police, 571st Military Police Company, 42nd Military Police Brigade. “I think everyone should go through training like this.”
According to a 2014 DOD presidential report on Sexual Harassment and Assault Response Prevention, a survey showed people make decisions and continue behaviors based on cultural conditioning and norms learned through reactions from others.
McGrenahan talked about some of his past experiences with the crowd, telling them that he didn’t always make the correct decisions when he had been drinking.
“When me and my friends would go out drinking – the trouble it would lead to would disgrace myself,” he said.
Under the military's definition, a sexual assault can be anything from unwanted sexual contact, such as inappropriate touching or grabbing, to sodomy and rape. According to DOD officials, in 2014, alcohol was a factor in as many as two-thirds of the cases.
“I want people to know we need to live with respect and dignity,” said McGrenahan. “We need to go out with a plan before bad things happen.”
At the conclusion of the show, McGrenahan closed with thanking all those who attended, and later took pictures and signed autographs.
| Date Taken: | 04.08.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 04.08.2015 18:56 |
| Story ID: | 159469 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, US |
| Web Views: | 152 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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