SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii -- U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii's annual campaign against domestic violence was launched, here, Monday.
Col. Douglas Mulbury, commander, USAG-HI, signed the proclamation at the post conference room.
This year, the Army's theme is "Together We Can End Domestic Violence. Act Now."
Mulbury stressed that the theme asks the community -- not any one person or group -- to take a stand against domestic violence.
"The things that bind us all together are your Army values," Mulbury said. "For all of you who are married, for all of you who are parents, you know how much you love your spouse and your children. But there are people among your ranks who will inflict their power, dominance and violence against innocent victims, and it is a cancer.
"It is completely against the Army values," Mulbury emphasized.
An estimated 1.3 million people are victims of physical assault from an intimate partner each year, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Mulbury, who affirmed that domestic violence has no place within the Army, said the signing of the proclamation is just a small part of the initiative.
"It has everything to do with the discipline and the values that make us Soldiers," Mulbury said. "Soldiers don't act this way, and Soldiers can stop it."
Mulbury emphasized to the attendees that if "you suspect a person is a victim of domestic violence, you have a responsibility to act."
After the proclamation was signed, Naomi Ackerman, a performer who is also a mediator and conflict-resolution specialist, performed her monologue "Flowers Aren't Enough."
The monologue tells the story of a young woman who finds herself in an abusive relationship.
Following her performance, Ackerman, who served in the Israeli army, praised the U.S. Army for its choice, as a community, to put an end to domestic violence. She also engaged the audience in dialogue about her performance, domestic violence and personal experiences.
The Department of Defense currently defines domestic violence as a range of different acts by an abuser directed against a person of the opposite sex who is a current or former spouse of the abuser, a person with whom the abuser shares a child, or a current or former intimate partner of the abuser with whom the abuser shares or has shared a home.
The definition has not yet been rewritten to include the recent "don't ask, don't tell" repeal.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
The Family Advocacy Program; Army Community Service; Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation; U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii, has the following events planned in support of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, or DVAM. Call (808) 655-4227.
Sept. 30 and Oct. 14, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Food drive and information booth, Schofield Barracks Commissary and Fort Shafter PXtra.
Oct. 5, 12 and 19; 10 a.m.-2 p.m., DVAM Information Booth, Tripler Army Medical Center.
Oct. 6 and 13, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., DVAM Information Booth, Schofield Exchange.
Domestic violence reporting
Call any of the following numbers for help.
Local 24/7 Army Community Service Victim Advocacy Helpline, call (808) 624-SAFE (7233).
The Victim Advocacy Program, call (808) 655-4779.
Social Work Service, call (808) 433-8579/6066.
Military Police, call (808) 655-7114 or (808) 438-7114.
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