Soldiers from the 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade and other local organizations around Fort Bragg, N.C. gathered Friday, Apr. 1, at the installation’s mini mall to kick off Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.
Lt. Col. Christopher Brough, commander, 3rd Battalion (Airborne), 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 108th, started the event with a speech emphasizing the importance of Sexual Harassment, Assault, Response and Prevention within the military’s ranks.
“Sexual assault is a problem in our Army and we need to get rid of it,” Brough said. “We need to focus on it all year-long.”
The Army dedicated the month of April to sexual assault awareness and prevention, Brough continued.
“I know its April fool’s day, but there’s no fooling around with sexual assault,” he said.
After concluding his speech, Brough and Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Sanchez, command sergeant major, 108th, cut the SAAPM cake, encouraging Soldiers to know and do their part to help eliminate sexual assault.
“The important thing is, SHARP is spreading the awareness to Soldiers and leaders,” Sgt. 1st Class Esteban Sepulveda, the brigade’s Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, said.”
Sepulveda emphasized the importance of each Soldier, as well as local organizations, for the success of SHARP.
“Without the help and support of outside agencies, the program would not have come as far as it has today,” Sepulveda said.
A few of the agencies mentioned:
The Rape Crisis Volunteers of Cumberland County, Womack Army Medical Center, Fayetteville Police Department, Cape Fear Valley Hospital, Child Advocacy Center, as well as a number of other agencies and local rape crisis centers.
The 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade remains committed to reducing, and eventually eliminating, sexual assault and sexual harassment from its ranks through the SHARP campaign.
Deeds Above Words!