Fort Bragg commemorates Domestic Violence Awareness Month

By Stacey Hale/ACSOctober 8, 2010

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Army commanders, Soldiers, Army Families, and all members of the Army community are in strategic positions to lead the Army's efforts to prevent domestic abuse. If each person in the community supports and participates in educational programs that deal with the challenges that accompany military life, we can build and strengthen individual and Family resilience, maintain readiness and stop domestic abuse.

Army leadership is fully committed to support its Families and assist them in overcoming any negative forces that diminish their health and well being. Domestic abuse, in any degree, undermines that commitment. As Army Families live with multiple stressors, deployments and their aftermath, conflict and distress, the involvement of the entire Army community is critical.

The Army has a comprehensive approach to the prevention of domestic abuse, assuring that all members of the Army community have the opportunity to prepare for the challenges that often occur in intimate relationships.

The Army also provides a broad spectrum of resources everyone can use to prevent domestic abuse from occurring initially, and can develop skills to help restore stability and health if needed.

The entire community can work together as a team to protect victims and hold offenders accountable when abuse occurs.

The Army values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage remain the foundation of prevention efforts. It is not easy to report abuse, especially when it occurs in a Soldier's own home, or within a friend's home. Reporting abuse is always a matter of duty, honor and integrity, and making the report often requires personal courage.

The key to effective prevention is a firm commitment from all members of the Army community to be prepared with knowledge about the signs of domestic abuse, and how to report it. It is essential that every member of the Army community be prepared to prevent violence in our homes and to protect victims from further abuse.

Join the Fort Bragg Family Advocacy Program as we commemorate Domestic Violence Awareness Month 2010, by participating in as many of the following as your schedule will permit:

Friday, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Brown Bag Lunch and Total Self Defense Workshop for women and daughters, Hammond Hills Neighborhood Center, corner of Bastogne and Normandy drives. These highly interactive workshops combine training to prevent domestic or dating violence and sexual assault with martial arts strategies for fending off an attacker.

On Oct. 22, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., come to Remember My Name Domestic Violence Victims Vigil, Cumberland County Courthouse. This event includes first - hand victims' stories and awareness activities by local and military leaders to commemorate victims of violence and raise awareness.

On Oct. 25, 6 to 8:30 p.m., there will be a couple's communication and resilience workshop, Watters Center for Resiliency and Family Life, corner of Knox and Randolph streets. All military couples are welcome to this dinner and marriage workshop. Admission is free. First 100 couples will receive a free book. Free child care will be available if reservations are made two weeks in advance.

On Oct. 28, 4 to 6:30 p.m., there will be a total self defense workshop, for women and daughters, Hammond Hills Neighborhood Center.

Oct. 30, 9 a.m., Fort Bragg Family 5K Monthly Walk/Run for Domestic Violence Awareness, Hedrick Stadium, corner of Reilly and Longstreet roads.