Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Mario Coto | 180423-N-JC445-0052 ATLANTIC OCEAN (April 23, 2018) Sailors run a 5K in support of...... read more read more
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ATLANTIC OCEAN – The sun shines through the clear blue sky on the flight deck as the group of Sailors cluster along the start line. Cold water, orange slices and cookies wait enticingly on the sideline to greet the participants after their run. The starting signal sounds off, and the Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM) 5K run has begun.
“It was amazing,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) 3rd Class Josue Jean, a native of Port-au-prince, Haiti. “Overall, it was a pretty nice turn out. It was good to see everyone come out for such a great cause.”
USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) Sailors ran 11 laps to make up the five kilometers (approximately 3.1 miles), April 23. However, the run wasn’t the most important part of the event.
“It’s not just about the run,” said Senior Chief Personnel Specialist Gilbert Valenzuela, a native of San Bernardino, California and GHWB’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) point of contact (POC). “It’s to honor the victims, in addition to increasing awareness throughout the command and throughout the entire Navy. Also to help as one united front to eliminate sexual assault.”
SAAPM is an annual, national campaign designed to increase public awareness about sexual assault, by educating individuals and communities on methods for preventing sexual assault.
“At the end of the day, no matter what we do, our rate, rank or whatever, we are all part of one team and we support each other,” said Jean after completing his run. “We don’t have any place in the Navy for that type of behavior.”
To support SAAPM, the SAPR team also hosted a kick-off ceremony March 23 where Sailors signed a pledge board that was displayed throughout the month. Another event was the “human ribbon” where Sailors gathered in a formation holding teal paper creating a symbolic visual of the crew’s stance against sexual assault.
“It just shows the crew of USS George H.W. Bush fully supports the SAPR program and all the SAPR victim advocates and POCs who are behind helping the Sailors who need assistance,” said Valenzuela.
Though SAAPM only takes place once a year, Sailors are urged to remember that preventing sexual assault is a continuous effort.
The ship is underway conducting routine training exercises to maintain carrier readiness.
For more news from USS George H.W. Bush visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn77 or www.facebook.com/ussgeorgehwbush/.
| Date Taken: | 04.25.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 04.25.2018 11:41 |
| Story ID: | 274410 |
| Location: | US |
| Hometown: | PORT-AU-PRINCE, HT |
| Hometown: | SAN BERNARDINO, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 1,264 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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