From left, Marie-Jules Byrd, Fort Belvoir Garrison victim advocate; Command Sgt. Maj. Greg Kleinholz; Col. Josh SeGraves, garrison commander; and Chinita Reid-Latson, lead sexual assault response coordinator for the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response & Preventioin Resource Center. The group signed a proclamation, marking April as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.
Belvoir Garrison signs SHARP proclamation
Fort Belvoir Garrison command team of Col. Josh SeGraves and Command Sgt. Maj. Greg Kleinholz, joined Chinita Reid-Latson, lead sexual assault response coordinator for the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response & Prevention Resource Center; and Marie-Jules Byrd, garrison victim advocate; to sign a proclamation marking April as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.
This year's theme for SAAPM is Prevention Starts with You. This year's proclamation reiterated that prevention should be year-round and that sexual assault and harassment do not align with any form of trust.
"Sexual harassment hurts all Service members and erodes the bonds that inherently exist in our units. One incident of sexual assault can diminish and destroy trust," it states.
By signing the proclamation, SeGraves and Kleinholz encouraged Soldiers and civilians to pledge to end sexual assaults; treat everyone with dignity and respect; and create a strong culture built on trust and upholding standards.
Sexual Assault and Awareness Prevention Month
Everyone can support SAAPM by wearing teal on Thursdays in April; and by participating in Denim Day, April 27, with supervisor permission.
Information tables are set up through April at the Belvoir Exchange and Graves and Specker gyms.
The DoD Safe Helpline is: 877 995 5247. Chat with the helpline through
online.safehelpline.org; discuss through safehelproom.org.
All Safe Helpline services are anonymous, confidential and tailored to support Service members and their families affected by sexual assault.
Margaret Steele
Fort Belvoir Garrison Public Affairs