Photo By 1st Sgt. Jason Duhr | Over 120 motorcycles fill a parking lot near Pope Theater following the Paint the Town...... read more read more
FORT BRAGG, N.C. – More than 170 motorcycle riders took an active role during Fort Bragg’s Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month motorcycle ride Wednesday, April 20, 2016, by participating in the Paint the Town Teal motorcycle ride here.
“Your presence and your ride today is going to be a visible demonstration of your commitment to eliminate sexual assault in our Army,” said Col. Joseph McCallion Jr., commander, 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade.
Riders, escorted by military police on the installation, the Fayetteville Police Department and the Hoke County Sheriff’s Department off of Fort Bragg, could be seen travelling the roads surrounding the installation.
“Soldiers at Fort Bragg are so engrained into the community, they live in the community and do activities in the community,” said Lathan Newkirk, Installation Army Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator. “It’s important we come together as a community and become aware.”
The month of April is a focused month for Soldiers to reaffirm their commitment to eliminating sexual assault incidents and the motorcycle ride was one of several events taking place during April at Fort Bragg.
“So in conjunction with sexual assault and prevention month, we also have alcohol awareness month,” Newkirk said.
Newkirk spoke prior to the event to promote alcohol awareness month and talk about the connection between sexual offenses and alcohol use.
“About 62% or more of the cases in which there’s sexual assault reported there was also some alcohol abuse or drug abuse reported at the same time,” Newkirk said.
Newkirk said Soldiers will continue to use alcohol, but they need to remain aware of their surroundings.
According to statistics from the Sexual Assault and Prevention website, victims of sexual assault are 13 times more likely to abuse alcohol and 26 times more likely to abuse drugs to try to deal or cope with the effects of being assaulted.
“So that’s why it’s so significant that we get you guys the awareness about the proper use of alcohol and the misuse of drugs at the same time we talk about sexual assault,” Newkirk said.
The installation ASAP office offers help to those who need it.
“For us at the ASAP office what we can offer you guys is prevention training and education training for your units,” Newkirk said.
For Soldiers who fell victim to a sexual offense the Army offers counseling, the Victim Advocacy Services Program, Chaplains, Victim and Witness Assistance Program, and many other programs to assist with overcoming the incident.
It takes a collective effort to prevent sexual assaults and to encourage bystander intervention.
“We will continue to foster a climate that prevents sexual assault and harassment and respects the dignity of every Soldier, civilian and family member,” McCallion said.
The event, which was sponsored by the Spartan Brigade, was twice the size of similar events in the past, said Lt. Col. Eric P. Olson, Sexual Harassment, Assault, Response, and Prevention program manager for the XVIII Airborne Corps.
“We’re definitely going to do this again next year,” Olson said.
By 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade and Fort Bragg Soldiers taking part in the Paint the Town Teal motorcycle ride and Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month activities, they are making a personal commitment to preventing sexual offenses in the Army and are setting the example.
| Date Taken: | 04.20.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 04.29.2016 09:20 |
| Story ID: | 196868 |
| Location: | NC, US |
| Web Views: | 130 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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