Photo By Ensign Caitlin Omey | PENSACOLA, Fla. - Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola-area command leaders signed a...... read more read more
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PENSACOLA, Fla. – Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola-area commanding officers signed a joint proclamation April 3 to reaffirm the base and tenant command’s commitment to preventing sexual assault and providing resources for survivors of sexual assault during Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM).
“Sexual assault has no place in our military, and we must ensure every Sailor, Marine, and civilian understands the reporting process and the resources available,”said NAS Pensacola Commanding Officer Capt. Chandra Newman.“I am committed to fostering a culture where every service member and employee, regardless of rank or position, takes an active role in eliminating sexual assault from our organization.”
The 2026 SAAPM theme, ‘Step Forward. Prevent. Report. Advocate,’ campaign is a call to action for all individuals to use their personal and collective strength to advance meaningful change in preventing and responding to sexual violence.
“Although we should focus on sexual assault awareness year-round, having a specific month lets us bring that heightened awareness and helps us to facilitate those conversations,” said Jennifer Cauley, NAS Pensacola’s Fleet and Family Support Center’s supervisory integrated prevention coordinator.
Newman, along with other NAS Pensacola-area leadership, signed the proclamation to convey their intent to reinforce the focus on creating an appropriate culture to eliminate sexual assault and requiring a personal commitment from all service members and civilian employees.
The Step Forward campaign, launched in 2023, was designed to increase awareness of sexual assault and resources to enhance response. The campaign also focuses on changing harmful behaviors, providing support to victims of sexual assault and encouraging sexual assault prevention initiatives throughout the year.
Newman added that NAS Pensacola’s FFSC’s Sexual Assault Response Coordinators (SARCs) are engaged in training command representatives as Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Victim Advocates. SARCs serve as the primary point of contact for coordinating victim care services while Victim Advocates are volunteers with specific training in properly assisting victims of sexual assault.
“Our Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Victim Advocates at NAS Pensacola provide training within the command, work with survivors to promote positive change regarding sexual assault,” said Newman. “It is important that survivors know that resources are available to them.”
Active-duty Victim Advocates, individuals who have undergone the certification process through the National Organization of Victim Advocates (NOVA), are ready to immediately respond and Newman said that victims of sexual assault can report to either a SARC or Victim Advocate whether a restricted or unrestricted report is ultimately filed.
Individuals in immediate danger should call 911. To report a sexual assault, call the toll-free DoD Safe Helpline at (877) 995-5247 or Naval Air Station Pensacola 24/7 SAPR Duty Victim Advocate at 850-449-9231 or Naval Air Station Pensacola Civilian Victim Advocate at 850-293-4562 or the NAS Pensacola Sexual Assault Response Coordinator at 850-554-5606
| Date Taken: | 04.03.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 04.03.2026 13:29 |
| Story ID: | 561937 |
| Location: | PENSACOLA, FLORIDA, US |
| Web Views: | 95 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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