6-52 ADA events bring focus on SA prevention

By Spc. Isaac Castleberry, 6-52 Air Defense Artillery PAOMay 9, 2013

6-52 ADA events bring focus on SA prevention
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from the 6-52 Air Defense Artillery switched their normal uniform attire to a white t-shirt and blue jeans, symbolic of a woman who was sexually assaulted in Italy. The accused was released due to the technicality, but was eventually convict... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
6-52 ADA events bring focus on SA prevention
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – During the week of April 22-26, Soldiers from the 6th Battalion, 52nd Air Defense Artillery ran/walked five kilometers in support of Sexual Assault Awareness Week. More than 180 battalion Soldiers turned out for the event. This was just one of the ma... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

SUWON AIR BASE -- The Soldiers of the 6th Battalion, 52nd Air Defense Artillery underwent a week of classes and activities April 22-26 in order to bring awareness to sexual assault and sexual harassment. The Department of Defense observed April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The week started off with a 5k Walk/Run. This event turned out more than 180 Soldiers with the top finishers in each age bracket receiving a medal.

Following the run, the Female Mentorship Program held its quarterly meeting where women discussed among other topics, how fraternization can lead to sexual assault and how women can prevent being sexually assaulted. "The Female Mentorship Program is an outreach program to help build female Soldiers on a physical, spiritual, and mental balance," said 1st Lt. Lisa Campbell, the Fox Company, 6-52 ADA victim advocate. "It also serves as a way to show young female Soldiers how to build a better working relationship in order to help their career progression."

"I think the lessons we teach are a great tool young female Soldiers can use throughout their military career as well as their personal life," said Staff Sgt. Teresa Barner, the 6-52 ADA Battalion Equal Opportunity representative. "In return, we hope this program will not only help female Soldiers succeed in the military but give them the confidence not to stand for sexual assault or sexual harassment."

The Soldiers wore denim pants and white shirts April 24 in support of a rape victim in Italy whose case was dismissed because the judge ruled that her clothing, blue jeans and a white shirt, were too tight and thus contributed to her being victimized. Public outcry later caused the case to be reopened and the accused rapist was found guilty.

Soldiers also took part in various interactive presentations, including video exercises where the audience's choices determined the outcome for the characters in the scenarios. "We are aggressively training our Soldiers to be proactive instead of reactive when it comes to the prevention of sexual assault," said Campbell.

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