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- Go to a safe location away from the attacker. Contact a Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC), Uniformed Victim Advocate (UVA), Victim Advocate (VA), or Military One Source for Restricted/Unrestricted reporting.
- IF YOU ARE LOCATED ANYWHERE IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, PLEASE BE SURE TO SPEAK TO A UNIFORMED VICTIM ADVOCATE OR VICTIM ADVOCATE FOR A RESTRICTED REPORT BEFORE YOU CONTACT MEDICAL OR LAW ENFORCEMENT. CALIFORNIA IS A MANDATED REPORTING STATE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL AND HEALTH CARE PRACTIONERS TO INCLUDE MILITARY TREATMENT FACILITIES.
- Seek medical care as soon as possible. Even if you do not have any visible physical injuries, you may be at risk of becoming pregnant or acquiring a sexually transmitted disease.
- Ask the healthcare provider to conduct a sexual assault forensic examination (SAFE) to preserve forensic evidence.
- If you suspect you have been drugged, request that a urine sample be collected.
- Preserve all evidence of the assault. Do not bathe, wash your hands or brush your teeth. Do not clean or straighten up the crime scene.
Sexual Assault is the most under reported crime in our society and in the military. While the Department of Defense prefers complete reporting of sexual assaults to activate both victims’ services and law enforcement actions, it recognizes that some victims desire only medical and support services and no command or law enforcement involvement. The Department believes its first priority is for victims to be protected, treated with dignity and respect, and to receive the medical treatment, care and counseling that they deserve. Under DoD’s Confidentiality Policy, military victims of sexual assault have two reporting options - Restricted reporting and Unrestricted reporting. Military retirees, dependents, and other civilian victims currently may use only Unrestricted reporting.
The Department of Defense and U.S. Marine Corps is committed to providing you full and complete care, treatment and counseling. Marine Corps Recruit Depot/Western Recruiting Region will ensure you will receive all necessary services, even if it must obtain them from civilian providers.
Restricted reporting allows a sexual assault victim to confidentially disclose the details of his or her assault to specified individuals and receive medical treatment and counseling, without triggering the official investigative process. Service members who are sexually assaulted and desire restricted reporting under this policy may only report the assault to the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC), Uniformed Victim Advocate (UVA), Victim Advocate, or Mental Health Service Healthcare Provider (MHS).
IF YOU ARE LOCATED ANYWHERE IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, PLEASE BE SURE TO SPEAK TO A UNIFORMED VICTIM ADVOCATE OR VICTIM ADVOCATE FOR A RESTRICTED REPORT BEFORE YOU CONTACT MEDICAL OR LAW ENFORCEMENT. CALIFORNIA IS A MANDATED REPORTING STATE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL AND HEALTH CARE PRACTIONERS TO INCLUDE MILITARY TREATMENT FACILITIES.
Consistent with current policy, they may also report the assault to a chaplain. Although a report to a chaplain is not a restricted report under this policy or the provisions of this Directive, it is a communication that may be protected under the Military Rules of Evidence (MRE) or applicable statutes and regulations. The restricted reporting process does not affect any privilege recognized under the MRE. This Directive and its policy on restricted reporting is in addition to the current protections afforded privileged communications with a chaplain, and does not alter or affect those protections.
Upon notification of a reported sexual assault, the SARC will immediately assign a UVA/VA to the victim. The assigned Victim Advocate will provide accurate information on the process of restricted versus unrestricted reporting.
Restricted reporting is available at this time only to military personnel of the Armed Forces and the Coast Guard. Military personnel include members on active duty and members of the Reserve component (Reserve and National Guard) provided they are performing federal duty (active duty training or inactive duty training and members of the National Guard in Federal (Title 10) status). Members of the Reserve Component not performing Federal duty are not eligible. Retired members of any component are not eligible. Dependents are not eligible. DoD civilian employees are not eligible.
- You receive appropriate advocacy, and counseling.
- Provides some personal space and time to consider your options and to begin the healing process.
- Empowers you to seek relevant information and support to make more informed decisions about participating in the criminal investigation.
- You control the release and management of your personal information.
- You decide whether and when to move forward with initiating an investigation.
- Your assailant remains unpunished and capable of assaulting other victims.
- You cannot receive a military protective order.
- You will continue to have contact with your assailant, if he/she is in your organization or billeted with you.
- Evidence from the crime scene where the assault occurred will be lost, and the official investigation, should you switch to an unrestricted report, will likely encounter significant obstacles.
- You will not be able to discuss the assault with anyone, to include your friends, without imposing an obligation on them to report the crime. The only exceptions would be chaplains, designated healthcare providers, your assigned victim advocate, and the sexual assault response coordinator.
- You will be ineligible to invoke the collateral misconduct provision of the Department’s sexual assault policy in the event that your command learns that you had engaged in some form of misconduct at the time you were assaulted.
This option is recommended for victims of sexual assault who desire medical treatment, counseling and an official investigation of the crime. When selecting unrestricted reporting, you should use current reporting channels, e.g. chain of command, law enforcement or report the incident to the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC), or request healthcare providers to notify law enforcement. Upon notification of a reported sexual assault, the SARC will immediately assign a Uniformed Victim Advocate (VA) or Victim Advocate (VA). At the victim’s discretion/request, the healthcare provider shall conduct a sexual assault forensic examination (SAFE), which may include the collection of evidence. Details regarding the incident will be limited to only those personnel who have a legitimate need to know.
The position of Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC) has been established to coordinate sexual assault victim care. Upon receipt of a report of sexual assault, the SARC will assign a Uniformed Victim Advocate (UVA) or Victim Advocate (VA) to help you obtain necessary services and to provide crisis intervention, referral and ongoing non-clinical support. Support will include providing information on available options and resources so you can make informed decisions about your case.
The UVA/VA will accompany you, if desired, to investigative interviews, medical examinations and follow-up appointments.
Your UVA/VA will continue to assist you until you no longer feel a need for support.
As a Marine, if you know or suspect someone has been sexually assaulted, you must report the crime. The only personnel exempt from this policy are: Uniformed Victim Advocates (UVA), Sexual Assault Response Coordinators (SARC), Chaplains or Religious Petty Officers (RPO), Medical Personnel (except for the state of California), and Marine & Family Services personnel, which includes civilian Victim Advocates (VA) and Counselors.
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- Get assistance, but never leave them alone
- Support them and show respect, but don’t be overly protective
- Demonstrate empathy by concentrating on helping your friend, fellow Marine, or colleague
- Listen to them and take the allegations seriously, without asking for the details
- Do not make judgments about the victim of the alleged offender
- Encourage the victim to report the crime; however you should report the sexual assault to the proper authorities
- Protect the victims confidentiality by not discussing the assault with anyone, except the authorities
- Repeat this message to the victim: You are not to blame!
- Travel with a buddy
- Stay in groups
- Plan your outings and avoid getting into bad situations
- Introduce your date to your roommate and/or friends before going out and tell them when you anticipate returning
- If it is a first date, drive your own transportation and meet him/her at the location during daylight hours
- Stay sober
- Never leave a drink unattended and if possible, pour your own drinks
- Never leave a bar or party with someone you do not know or trust
- Walk only in lighted areas after dark
- Keep the doors to barracks, homes, and vehicles locked
- Carry a cell phone or calling card, or know where a phone is located
- Have enough cash to get take a taxi, bus, or other public transportation if necessary
- Learn self-defense precautions suited to your individual personality
- Communicate up front with your date or partner your feelings toward a physical relationship
- Remember No means No. If you do not want to be intimate with another person, tell him or her clearly
- Speak confidently and forcefully
- Match your body language to your words
- Do not just go along for the wrong reasons
- Watch out for Warning Signals or Red Flags from your date or partner
- Behaves as if the two of you are more intimate than you really are, or uses a lot of we phrases and appears to be working too hard to make you trust him/her
- Behaves in a way that is unusual or excessively friendly in an attempt to manipulate or control you
- Gives too many details about themselves that most people would not volunteer
- Ignores, interrupts, or makes fun of you
- Sits or stands too close to you or stares at you. Has a reputation for being a player
- Makes slight criticisms and offers you the opportunity to prove him wrong. This is a form of manipulation to get you to do what they want. For example: A man says, “You’re so beautiful that you are probably stuck up and wouldn’t go out with someone like me,” and in an attempt to prove him wrong the women agrees to a date.
- Spends a lot of money on you and appears to be expecting something in return
- Makes unsolicited promises, such as, “I’ll just have one drink, and then I’ll go.”
- An unsolicited promise can be a way to buy time or to gain control over you or the situation
- Attempts to control you, such as not allowing you to partake in the decision- making
- Suggests that you do not trust him or her. Again, this is a form of manipulation
- Doesn't accept NO for an answer
- If they do not accept No for an answer on something small, such as drinking alcohol, they may not in regard to sex either
- Drinks too much or uses drugs; tries to get you to use drugs or alcohol
- Tries to touch or kiss you when you barely know him or her
- Wants or pressures you to be alone with them before getting to know you
- Gets angry or sulks if they do not get what they want
- Remember: SEXUAL ASSAULT IS A CRIME
- Ensure your partner consents to sexual activity
- You must have consent from your partner before you can legally engage in sexual activity
- If someone is passed out, unconscious, or asleep, they are legally unable to give their consent
- Ensure a potential partner is of legal age
- Ignorance is no excuse
- Age of consent varies by state, however, UCMJ considers the legal age for sexual activity as 18 years of age
- Communicate your expectations to a potential partner
- Misunderstandings and lack of communication, especially between people who don’t know each other very well, can lead to dangerous and career-threatening situations
- Don’t use drugs, avoid excessive alcohol
- People under the influence of alcohol or drugs often have different memories of how events occur
- Says yes, but changes his or her mind
- Has been kissing you or making out with you
- Has had sex with you before
- Has been drinking alcohol
- Wears provocative clothing
Designed to meet three objectives:
- Define sexual assault and consent
- Clarify Marine Corps policy
- Discuss MCO 1752.5
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Sexual Assault Response Coordinator
619.524.5731
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