FORT BUCHANAN, PUERTO RICO- Hundreds of Soldiers and family members from the 1st Mission Support Command, U.S. Army Reserve-Puerto Rico, participated in a fun walk, April 22, 2018 to raise awareness against sexual harassment and assault, as part as the command's commemoration of April as the Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention month.
"Sexual violence breaks the trust the American people placed in our organization to safeguard the sons and daughters, who have been placed in our care," said Brig. Gen. Dustin A. Shultz, Commanding General of the 1st Mission Support Command, U.S. Army Reserve-Puerto Rico, while addressing the troops, shortly before starting the walk.
"Sexual misconduct destroys unit readiness and degrades our mission," added Shultz, who is also the senior federal Army officer in the Caribbean region.
In order to facilitate the conditions for a more open and fluid communication about the prevention of sexual harassment, the command's leadership decided to conduct a walk and not a run.
The walk is part of a larger command campaign to ensure Soldiers and family members are able to openly discuss sexual harassment and to prevent it in our formations and communities.
Other events included an official proclamation signed by the command's leadership, expressing the resolute commitment of the largest federal U.S. Army command in the region to eradicate and prevent sexual violence in its ranks.
As the participants continued getting ready for the walk, Ms. Evelyn Franco, the command's Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC), read the official proclamation signed by the 1st MSC leadership, ensuring everyone understood the seriousness of sexual harassment.
"Sexual harassment is a social issue that impacts everyone, not just Soldiers. This is a responsibility that everyone must assume, so we can eradicate it once and for all" said Franco after reading the proclamation.
According to the participating Soldiers, they recognize the value of these events as a prevention tool.
"These type of events are important because they inform you about where to go and what to do in case it is needed," said Spec. Jane Scott, from the 413th Financial Management Support Detachment, U.S. Army Reserve-Puerto Rico.
"This walk builds camaraderie because you get to talk to other people not only people from your unit, but from other units," added Scott, who resides in Luquillo, Puerto Rico.
Other Soldiers found the walk more engaging and less boring, when compared with the traditional way Soldiers conduct training.
"This is something new, something different. It is way better than sitting down in a classroom, reading PowerPoint slides," said Spec. José Ramos Flores, a native from Caguas, Puerto Rico, who is assigned to the 597th Quartermaster Company, U.S. Army Reserve-Puerto Rico.
The 1stMSC, U.S. Army Reserve-Puerto Rico remains committed to an effective prevention program of sexual violence, not just on April, but all year around, as a way to sustain the readiness of its troops, in order to continue meeting the needs of the nation.
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