Fort Irtwin Soldiers, community in Denim Day Walk support victims

By Mr. Gustavo Bahena (Irwin)April 14, 2015

Denim Day Walk led by NTC leadership
1 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – National Training Center and Fort Irwin Commander Brig. Gen. Joseph Martin, his spouse Lean Martin, Command Sgt. Maj. Stephen Travers and NTC staff led the procession through several streets on Fort Irwin. The 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment Horse Deta... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Brig. Gen. Joseph Martin speaks at the 2015 Fort Irwin Denim Day Walk
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The Denim Day formation walks on Fort Irwin
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The 1916th Support Battalion, led by Lt. Col. Marshanna Gipson, walks at the start of Demin Day
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Fort Irwin community wears jeans on Denim Day Walk here, April 8
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Community participates in 2015 Fort Irwin Denim Day Walk
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Mom and daughters participate in 2015 Fort Irwin Denim Day Walk
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FORT IRWIN, Calif. -- Leadership, Soldiers, Department of the Army civilians and community members of this installation took part in the 2015 Denim Day Walk here, April 8.

The community event demonstrated support for victims of sexual assault and one of this month's national observances -- Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention. The Department of Defense theme for this year's campaign is "Eliminate Sexual Assault: Know Your Part, Do Your Part."

This was the third year Fort Irwin conducted the march, which began with a formation of post units and was coordinated by the installation Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention program.

National Training Center and Fort Irwin Commander Brig. Gen. Joseph Martin, his spouse Lean Martin, NTC Command Sgt. Maj. Stephen Travers and NTC staff led the procession through several streets. The 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment Horse Detachment and units followed.

Participants wore denim in solidarity with the origins of Denim Day.

Martin spoke to the post-wide formation assembled on the blue track here and said the campaign against sexual assault is about prevention, intervention and being there for those who are survivors of sexual assault. He explained that serving, working and supporting the Army is to be part of a team that intervenes on behalf of individuals in need of help.

"I took an oath, I made a pledge," Martin said. "'I Joe Martin, pledge to take a strong committed affirmative and forever stand to protect my fellow Soldiers, family members and DA civilians against sexual violence. I pledge never to be a bystander, and I'll ensure Soldiers, family members and DA civilians are treated with dignity and respect at all times. I am Strong.'

"So, as we march together, today, on this third annual Denim Day I ask you to think about that pledge and be there for your fellow Soldier, civilian and family member so we can eliminate sexual assault, sexual harassment and violence for our team of teams here."

The commander described a strategy against sexual assault as starting at the smallest level, where innuendos or statements should be addressed immediately.

"Hey, what that person just did or said does not reflect our Army values," Martin described a scenario. "That's where we get after this. That's when we have culture change, where at the lowest level possible we see something and we say, 'This is not within our Army values, I don't support that and I'm going to stand up against it."

Martin also emphasized intervention in situations where an incident is about to occur. He stressed the resources available to help, such as law enforcement, chain of command, and leaders of the community.

Maj. Robyn Boehringer, SHARP manager, explained in a previous news article that Denim Day began after a rapist's conviction and sentence was overturned in Italy by that country's supreme court. The chief judge argued, "because the victim wore very, very tight jeans, she had to help him remove them, and by removing the jeans it was no longer rape, but consensual sex." Additionally, the Italian supreme court stated in its decision, "it is a fact of common experience that it is nearly impossible to slip off tight jeans even partly without the active collaboration of the person who is wearing them."

The women in the Italian parliament launched into immediate action and protested by wearing jeans to work and holding placards that read, "Jeans: An Alibi for Rape." From this display of outrage, wearing jeans on Denim Day has become a symbol of protest against erroneous and destructive attitudes about sexual assault.

Related Links:

DoD Sexual Assault Prevention and Response

National Training Center and Fort Irwin

The Army's SHARP program