R 012244Z APR 13

ALCOAST 141/13
COMDTNOTE 1000
SUBJ: SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH
1.  April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM).  This special
emphasis campaign provides an opportunity for us to rededicate our
efforts to eliminating sexual assault within the Coast Guard.
Eradicating this criminal behavior from our ranks is essential to
mission readiness and, more importantly, fulfills a foundational
commitment to each other as shipmates.
2.  Much has been accomplished over the past year in improving our
ability to prevent and respond to sexual assaults.  New policies,
enhanced training, improved access to victim support services and
greater communications provide us with important tools to achieve our
goal of eliminating sexual assault from the Coast Guard.  We all know
that more work remains.
3.  To promote awareness and to reinforce the critical role of
leadership in preventing and responding to sexual assaults in the
Coast Guard, all Commanders, Commanding Officers, Officers-in-Charge,
Deputy and Assistant Commandants, and Chiefs of Headquarters staff
elements are directed to conduct a unit all-hands SAAM discussion
during the month of April 2013.
4.  These events should facilitate open, frank, and productive
unit-level discussions about sexual assault prevention and response.
Commands should incorporate the standardized toolkit available at:
http://www.uscg.mil/sapr.  The toolkit includes videos featuring the
Commandant and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard
providing personal messages on the imperative to focus our efforts on
preventing sexual assault.  Commands may hold or participate in
additional SAAM events as desired.
5.  This month, the Commandant will promulgate the Coast Guard SAPR
Strategic Plan.  This foundational document will be distributed to
every command in the Coast Guard.  It will outline our strategy to
eliminate sexual assault Service-wide.  This plan establishes
measurable goals and objectives clearly delineating the path to a
Coast Guard free from the destructive impacts of sexual assault.  I
direct every leader, manager, supervisor, service member, civilian
employee, and auxiliarist to actively participate in SAAM activities
and Coast Guard efforts to eliminate sexual assault.  Achieving our
goal will require the active involvement of all hands, your shipmates
deserve nothing less.
6.  VADM J. P. Currier, Vice Commandant, sends.
7.  Internet release authorized.