ALCOAST 117/21 - MAR 2021 APRIL 2021 IS SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS AND PREVENTION MONTH (SAAPM)

R 251928Z MAR 21
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 117/21
SSIC 1754
SUBJ:  APRIL 2021 IS SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS AND PREVENTION
MONTH (SAAPM)
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 311130 JUL 20/ALCOAST 292/20
1. The Coast Guard continues to align and adopt the Department
of Defense (DOD) Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office’s
(SAPRO) SAAPM theme designated for 2019 – 2021 “Protecting Our
People Protects Our Mission.” The SAAPM theme offers numerous
opportunities to deliver messages that relate to both the
individual and unit level, while emphasizing the integration
of primary prevention into events and activities. All Coast
Guard personnel must encourage behaviors that foster a climate
of dignity and respect to help ensure mission readiness and the
safety of all personnel every day, all year long.
2. Due to COVID-19 impacts on our normal day-to-day operations,
CO/OICs are encouraged to work with their respective Sexual
Assault Response Coordinators (SARCs) and Victim Advocates (VAs)
to determine the type of events/training that will best support
their unit given the current pandemic situation. Commands are
encouraged to conduct events in April, however, may opt to plan
Prevention activities through the end of the fiscal year. SARCs
and VAs should provide recommendations and should advertise and
promote various SAAPM educational events within their Areas of
Responsibilities (AORs) that may be virtual in nature. These
activities should have a strong Prevention focus and may range
from virtual brown bag lunch discussions to knowledge “trivia
bowls.” SARCs will report all activities and event participation
numbers within their AOR to the Health, Safety and Work-Life
Service Center (HSWL-SC) no later than 30 September 2021. HSWL-SC
will compile and share these figures with the SAPRR program and
senior leadership to demonstrate the extensive work and commitment
to Sexual Assault prevention expressed by field personnel in support
of SAAPM. 
3. CG Bystander Intervention Training (CG BIT) is always available
to units co-located with a SARC or specially-trained VA. CG BIT
is a ninety-minute interactive educational experience that engages
participants to learn to intervene safely on another’s behalf by
using scenarios and thought-provoking exercises. Units who are not
co-located with a SARC or specially-trained VA may opt to fund a
facilitator’s local travel. During SAAPM, units are encouraged
to arrange for CG BIT training by contacting their local SARC.
SARCs and specially-trained VAs facilitate this primary prevention
training and may do so through 30 September 2021, subject to
COVID-19 constraints, as part of SAAPM. SARCs will capture by
name and employee ID each member trained at each unit and report
the same to HSWL-SC.
4. The Coast Guard is the first and only Service to focus on
Recovery as a strategic goal. This year the CG will continue
to promote Recovery Awareness within our SAAPM activities.
Recovery is important as it allows the victim of sexual assault
to achieve a return to wellness, shed the victim label and adopt
a survivor outlook. Recovery is self-directed and empowering.
Every sexual assault victim has different needs so recovery is
an individual process that is supported from the initial crisis
stage and continues as long as the survivor needs/desires support.
It is vital that unit senior leadership and unit personnel support
our shipmates during any type of trauma. Support in this context
is defined as providing aid and resources, as well as demonstrating
concern for a person’s psychological well-being. During SAAPM, the
SAPRR Program will launch two video products, one on consent and
the other on Recovery based on our “Confide in Another” policy per
REF (A). Every command will be able to access these videos through
their SARCs and the SAPRR Program website (www.uscg.mil/saprr) to
share and discuss with all Coast Guard members.
5. All units are encouraged to contact your local SARC for all SAAPM
related events and issues. The SARC directory is available at the
link above. For all general questions regarding SAAPM, CG BIT, and
the SAPRR program, contact the HSWL-SC, SAPRR program coordinator,
Mr. Magnus Graham at magnus.j.graham@uscg.mil or Ms. Andrea McKie,
SAPRR specialist, at andrea.l.mckie@uscg.mil. 
6. RADM Dana L. Thomas, Director, Health, Safety, and Work-Life
(CG-11), sends.
7. Internet release is authorized.