SIGNATURE THE
SIGONELLA, SICILY
April 25, 2014
Vol. 31 No. 16
cnic.navy.mil/sigonella
9th annual Sexual Assault Awareness Walk is next week BY MC3 CAMERON BRAMHAM NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily - Wednesday’s 9th annual Sexual Assault Awareness Walk on NAS II marks an end to Sexual Assault Awareness Month. However, Xiomara Bowes, base Sexual Response Coordinator, will do her best to ensure sexual assault prevention is being actively discussed, or at least thought about, by the Sigonella community all year through. Since the beginning of the fiscal year, reports of sexual assault at NAS Sigonella have increased since the same time last year. While that number is troubling in certain respects, the fact that reports on NAS Sigonella are on the rise could be an indication that victims feel more secure coming forward. “My goal is not to drop the numbers [of reports]. It’s to increase the reports,” Bowes said. “If reports aren’t filed we don’t know what’s going out there. If we don’t know what’s going on out there, I can’t do my job.” Bowes said there are traditionally three obstacles that interfere with a victim reporting sexual assault. 1) The victim doesn’t think anyone will believe them. 2) The victim will be blamed for their actions 3) The victim’s command will not stand by them. Though those reservations won’t instantly vanish overnight, the Navy has taken measures to encourage victims to come forward. In August the Navy released SECNAVINST 1752.4B, a 102-page document that took another step toward forward in expanding the rights and privacy of sexual assault victims, including placing a greater emphasis on protecting the dignity and respect of the victim. At the command level, Bowes has also noticed a shift in attitudes toward sexual assault, especially amongst Sigonella’s younger Sailors. When she assumed her post in July 2013, Bowes said she would walk into a room of younger Sailors to talk to them about sexual assault and they were guarded. “Arms were folded and minds seemed closed,” Bowes recalled. But in 10 months, she feels that in general attitudes have changed for the better. In fact, she said that when she goes into a room to speak to her Sailors about sexual assault awareness, there is a much more welcoming feeling. She feels the difference is likely in her approach. “Oh, I am very frank,” she said emphatically. “But I don’t lecture them. I am really about people having healthy sexual relationships. I am upfront and I don’t mess around. I talk openly and honestly and I listen to them. We won’t know what’s going on with our Sailors if we’re not willing to speak honestly and listen intently.” Despite the training she provides (and base leadership reiterates), Bowes believes the biggest instrument to change ultimately lies with the Sailors who are out there on the front lines, which in this case means at parties or in other social situations that are common pathways to sexual assault. “Bystander intervention is a big part of preventing sexual assault,” Bowes said. “Those drinking and engaging service members have a lot of influence on preventing this by doing the right thing. I hate to sound cliché, but it is truly about honor, courage, and commitment. It is our duty to ensure that our shipmates are free from harm.” NAS Sigonella Commanding Officer Capt. Chris Dennis concurs with this sentiment, using different Sailor theology to echo Bowes’ sentiment. “The last sentence of the Sailor’s Creed says, ‘I am committed to excellence and the fair treatment of all.’ We can recite the words, but we can’t live that and tolerate sexual abuse. Those ideologies are completely contradictory.” The walk is the last planned event for Sexual Assault Awareness Month, which kicked off April 1 after NAS Sigonella Commanding Officer Capt. Chris Dennis signed a proclamation at Take 5. The walk will begin at 11:30 a.m. in front of Building 618 (Commanding Officer and Base Admin Building) and will head toward the galley and continuing towards the water tower. Participants will then proceed past Building 618 once again and finish the one mile stroll at Take 5. Refreshments and food will be provided at Take 5. Bowes said the walk honors the victims on the base “and to let them know that we’re still thinking about it,” she said.
Service members from Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella walk together in support of sexual assault awareness during last year's annual Sexual Assault Awareness Walk. This year's walk event will take place infront of the Commanding Officer's Bldg (618) on NAS II this Wednesday, from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. All community members are encouraged to participate in the Sexual Assault Awareness Walk as the event wraps up April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of NAS Sigonella Public Affairs archives by Machinery Repairman 1st Class Gary Spence/Released)
SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIM ADVOCATE HOTLINES: Sigonella SAPR VA Hotline: 335-642-8312 DoD Safe Helpline: 001-877-995-5247 (From cell phones and off-base telephones) Or: 19020 (toll-free access code) 1-877-995-5247 (From DSN lines)
Around Sigonella:
EGG-Stravaganza!
School Age Care children attend demonstration
Check out what's happening around Sigonella!
Check out pictures from the annual Easter celebration hosted by MWR Sigonella
See how Sigonella's first responders demonstrated their skills and techniques
PAGE 3
PAGE 8
PAGE 11
Scan for direct links to NAS Sigonella