FORT RUCKER, Ala. (March 27, 2015) -- April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Fort Rucker is committed to the fight to combat sexual assault and harassment.
One way the installation hoped to promote awareness, not just on Fort Rucker, but throughout the Wiregrass community, was through the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention motorcycle ride March 20.
"This event is to primarily get out in the community and show the community what we're doing here on Fort Rucker and (the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence) as a whole, and show that we're dedicated and committed to eliminating sexual assault and sexual harassment," said Sgt. 1st Class Renaldo Edge, victims advocate for the NCO Academy. "It's too easy to sit somewhere and pitch sexual assault and sexual harassment. You can beat somebody over the head with a PowerPoint presentation all day long, but something like this gives us an opportunity to think outside of the box and get creative to promote awareness. Teach them while they're doing something they enjoy."
The ride started at the motorcycle safety course track located next to the Lemon Lot and led out the Ozark gate. From there, the more than two dozen riders rode on Highway 231 through Ozark into Dothan where they stopped for lunch to enjoy a bit of fellowship and to talk a little SHARP.
"We want to get everybody's take on how we're doing as senior leaders and officers and civilians here on the installation, and talk about what we can do to better promote (prevention) and eliminate (sexual assault and harassment)," said Edge.
Although eliminating sexual assault and harassment entirely is a daunting task, Edge said it's important to try, no matter how impossible the feat may seem.
"I personally think that not everybody is built with the same moral compass," said the victim advocate. "Especially with the younger generation and younger Soldiers who are brand new to the Army, a lot of times they just want to go, go, go, and party all the time. A lot of time alcohol is involved, so it's our job as senior leaders to educate them.
"And even at the senior level, a lot of senior leaders tend to forget how important it is that we should be mentoring our Soldiers and making sure that they are doing the right thing, and that we're doing the right thing ourselves," he explained. "Sometimes as senior leaders, we don't do the right thing, and Soldiers see that. So what we do, they see, and they might want to portray and emulate us. We need to make sure that we have our things in order so that they get the right image of us."
Sgt. Maj. Marvin Pinckney, USAACE G-3 sergeant major, said that awareness is the reason he wanted to attend the ride.
"The reason I participated in Friday's ride is simple. As a leader I want to play an active role in the fight against sexual harassment and assault in the Army," he said. "What better way to do that than to take a ride with my fellow riders, both Soldiers and civilians, to promote awareness and change?"
Edge said that level of communication and awareness is the best way to tackle these types of issues.
"The (Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno) said it as clear as I possibly can -- 'It's about trust,'" he said. "'Trust is the bedrock of our Army profession,' and he hit that nail right on the head. We gain their trust, we earn their trust and a lot of people seem to think when you put on the uniform, this rank or thank rank, Soldiers automatically need to respect me and trust me. That's not the case.
"Trust and respect are earned, and when you degrade that trust, it diminishes, it degrades, it destroys everything that we've worked so hard to build and gain with our Soldiers. That's something we have to work on," Edge said.
Related Links:
USAACE and Fort Rucker on Twitter
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