‘Daggers’ conduct Dye Hard 5K run in support of SAAPM

Photo By Sgt. Michael Roach | Soldiers of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, commemorated Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month with the Dye Hard 5K Run April 10 on Custer Hill, Fort Riley, Kansas. The event concluded with remarks by Col. David W. Gardner (right), 2nd ABCT commander, who, along with his battalion command teams, signed a proclamation in support of the Army’s program to prevent sexual harassment and assault within the ranks. (Sgt. Michael C. Roach, 19th Public Affairs Detachment)  

FORT RILEY, KS, UNITED STATES

04.10.2017

Courtesy Story

19th Public Affairs Detachment

More than 3,000 Soldiers of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, commemorated Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month by running the Dye Hard 5K run sponsored by the Sexual Harassment and Assualt Response Prevention program April 10 at Fort Riley, Kansas.

“We want to make a strong statement against sexual assault and harassment, and have fun while supporting the program,” said Col. David Gardner, commander, 2nd ABCT, 1st Inf. Div.

Soldiers ran five kilometers, crossing seven stations manned by each battalion’s SHARP and equal opportunity representitvies who threw teal-colored dye in the air for the Soldiers to cross. Teal is the official color used for SAAPM.

“The Dye Hard run was an excellent event to promote something positive,” Gardner said. “More importantly, it demonstrated that those who do not act in accordance with Army values are in the extreme minority. The take away from the Dye Hard run was that the vast majority of the Soldiers in the brigade support the SHARP program."

Ashley Tokoi and Sgt. Bethany Guzman, the victim advocates for 2nd ABCT, began planning the event in December 2016 and enlisted the help of more than 75 Soldiers to execute it.

“We wanted to do something that has never done before at Fort Riley,” Guzman said. “To fight war at the frontline or being back home, we need to be Soldiers 24/7, building comaradories and awareness is crutial in fighting any battle to include sexual harassment and assault. We wanted something original for our Soldiers.”

Sexual Awareness Assault Awareness and Prevention Month is observed every April.

“It shows how adaptive the Army is; I have been in the army for over 15 years and have never done anything like this,” said Staff Sgt. Mathew Tratz, an electronics warfare sergeant assigned to Headquaters and Headquaters Company, 299th Brigade Support Battlion, 2nd ABCT. “It’s good to do something that is not your usual cookie-cutter physical training.”

• Date Taken: 04.10.2017
• Date Posted: 04.25.2017 10:37
• Story ID: 231454
• Location: FORT RILEY, KS, US