ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — APG leaders pledged to prevent sexual assault and harassment during the Teal Badge Ceremony at APG North’s Corvias Office, April 4, 2023. This annual ceremony corresponds with Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month and was hosted by the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Fusion Directorate. SAAPM raises awareness and facilitates the prevention of sexual assault, harassment and abuse.
This year, the Army’s SAAPM theme is “Intervene. We are a Team: There is an US in TrUSt. Can They Trust in You?”
According to a SAAPM overview, the 2023 theme builds on shaping Army culture, organizational climates and individual responsibility to create an environment of mutual trust that promotes personal and unit readiness in preventing and mitigating misconduct.
Christopher Scott, a sexual assault response coordinator for the SHARP Fusion Directorate, gave the welcoming address and opening remarks.
“2023 marks the 22nd anniversary of SAAPM,” he said. “[This year’s theme] is a reminder to our Soldiers, civilians, and families that we all have a role and responsibility in keeping one another safe. Even though April has been designated as SAAPM month, we ask that all leaders continue to support the fight against sexual assault everyday throughout the year.”
Scott directed APG senior leaders, APG senior commander and commander of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command Maj. Gen. Robert Edmonson II and CECOM Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Conaty, to pin teal badges on APG police officers, Military Working Dog Sgt. Jaffa, Cpl. William Beats, Cpl. Anthony Basi and Officer Anita Hyman, as confirmation of their commitment to fight against sexual assault and honor survivors. Edmonson applauded the officers’ dedication and commitment to the APG community.
Edmonson pledged his support of SAAPM. “SAAPM creates safe environments for organizations by bringing awareness to some of the problems we as a team may go through,” he stated. “Bringing awareness to these problems takes a team effort from all levels of an organization. It is the duty of each individual to support both our Soldier and civilian teammates. It is our responsibility to build cohesive teams, so our workforce is motivated to foster an environment of prevention.”
Edmonson’s closing statements were a call-to-action to the community, “Although this is just the beginning of SAAPM, sexual assault awareness and prevention is a year-round priority across the entire Army. Remember: ‘Intervene. We are a Team.’”
Edmonson then began the wave of signatures to the SAAPM Proclamation, followed by Conaty and APG Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Denson. The SAAPM Proclamation declares April as SAAPM and that “there is no excuse and never an invitation to rape.” Leaderships’ signatures signified their strong support of the SHARP Fusion Directorate’s efforts to educate the Army community about the impact of rape and sexual assault on Army readiness.
The ceremony concluded with APG senior leaders hanging their organization’s teal ribbon on the pillars of the Corvias Office to show their support of SAAPM.
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