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News | April 26, 2019

Awareness walk culminates Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month

By John Dwyer III DLA Troop Support Public Affairs

Clad in teal shirts emblazoned with the Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention logo, more than 200 Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support and fellow Naval Support Activity Philadelphia tenant employees walked a mile in support of SAAP month April 23 in Philadelphia.

The “wave of teal,” as NSA-P’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program manager Navy Chief Petty Officer Felipe Vazquez called it, moved across the installation in a display of support for victims and dedication to the eradication of sexual assault, culminating a month of activities with the same SAPR focus.

“I am pretty sure we set a record for attendance this year,” Vazquez said. “It just goes to show how important this program is to so many people, and hopefully serves as a visual representation to the workforce that sexual assault will not be tolerated anywhere in the Department of Defense.”

The walk was the most visible SAAP event in April, which is designated as SAAP month, but only one of many held by DLA Troop Support and the NSA Philadelphia SAPR council that included:

  • April 4-17: Handprint banners and SAPR information tables were available at various buildings throughout the month to engage and inform employees.
  • April 11: A “Be Brave” bystander intervention educational workforce event.
  • April 24: Wear Teal and Denim Day publicly displayed support for the SAPR program.

While these events provide visibility and focus on the DOD’s SAPR program, DLA Troop Support Sexual Assault Response Coordinator Ella Wynn said it’s a continuous program that deserves attention throughout the year.

“SAAP month activities and the [awareness] walk are great ways to really showcase the program and how many people care,” Wynn said. “And I can only hope that the spirit of togetherness and support shown at the walk carries throughout the year and into our other training sessions and events.”

As Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month comes to a close, employees are reminded that more information on the DLA SAPR program can be found on the DLA SAPR webpage.