by Chief Petty Officer Ryan Arnoldussen
Navy Operational Support Center Ventura County
PORT HUEMENE, California - As part of National Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April, Navy Operational Support Center Ventura County participated in the National Clothesline Project and the National Denim Day.
Capt. Ronald Oswald, commanding officer, NOSC Ventura County, said one of the goals of SAAM is to educate communities and individuals about how to prevent sexual violence.
“I am extremely proud of NOSC Ventura County sailors for their courage in speaking out and selfless commitment to preventing sexual violence and assault,” Oswald said. “Our Clothesline Project T-shirts and Denim Day help to raise awareness and to reinforce our resolve for the fair treatment and uncompromising respect of every single sailor.”
The National Clothesline Project started in 1990 to address the issue of violence against women. NOSC Ventura County sailors made T-shirts to support and raise awareness against sexual assault.
The T-shirts hung on a clothesline throughout the month at the command as testimony to the problem of violence against women, sending a message of courage, and show that it is safe to come forward for help.
Throughout SAAM, command leadership and members voiced their commitment to a command climate and environment where all personnel are safe and respected.
“We are standing up to show our support and telling everyone that Sexual Assaults are not tolerated in our Navy,” Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Amber Glessner said.
National Denim Day is a rape prevention education campaign, where community members, elected officials, businesses and students wear jeans as a visible statement against misconceptions that surround sexual assault.
NOSC Ventura County sailors wore jeans to reaffirm our Core Values and to show our commitment to preventing sexual violence and assault against women and men.
Sailors creating National Clothesline Project T-shirts expressed a genuine connection and appreciation to the problem of violence against women and sexual assault.
Personnel Specialist 2nd Class Mark Palafox said that he was moved because of the considerable implications of this project.
“Someone may get the message from seeing one of these shirts and do something different,” he said.