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ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — The APG community kicked off Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month with a teal badge ceremony and proclamation signing at the APG North (Aberdeen) recreation center April 3, 2024. SAAPM is recognized in April by both civilian and military communities. The color teal signifies support for sexual harassment and assault survivors.
The program started with a welcome from Community Ready and Resilient Integrator Sean Green with the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command. The Army’s 2024 SAAPM theme is “Change Through Unity: Empower, Protect and Prevent.” This theme emphasizes that the Army community can collectively create a cohesive and healthy environment.
“[The theme] is a reminder to our Soldiers, civilians, and families that we all have a role and responsibility in keeping one another safe,” Green said.
According to Green, we need to work together to create a workplace free from sexual harassment and assault year-round. This year, APG is emphasizing the need to raise awareness of male sexual trauma because it has historically been underreported and stigmatized, he explained. Green then introduced an educational video featuring APG senior leaders, which described the need to share the stories of male victims.
Following the video, APG Senior Commander and CECOM Commanding General Maj. Gen. Robert L. Edmonson II pinned teal badges to three Directorate of Emergency Services personnel: Security Officer Lt. Joseph Williams and Police Officers Sgt. Latrina Brown and Tracey Gavin. DES personnel will wear these badges in April.
Edmonson thanked DES for their support and commitment to the safety of our installation. Edmonson said people are our Army’s greatest asset, and we must work together to build a healthy workplace environment and create a culture where sexual abuse is not tolerated.
“In this Army, we must all play a critical role in strengthening our respective command climates by engaging in behaviors that protect one another,” he said. “And by supporting each other to achieve personal and professional success.”
He thanked APG’s Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention professionals, calling them “Good Samaritans.”
“[They are] individuals who are standing by, ready to lean in,” he said. “[They are] part of the prevention, part of the reaction to help support those who are in need.”
Following Edmonson’s remarks, APG senior leaders signed a proclamation, signifying their support of SAAPM. Sixteen commands from across APG were represented.
Poster contest
After the formal portion of the program, attendees enjoyed refreshments, signed a SAAPM display board, and viewed the winning SAAPM posters, designed by members of the APG community.
The first-place poster, submitted anonymously, features a crowded city scene, similar to Times Square, with billboards promoting SAAPM. The second-place poster was designed by human resource specialist Anastazija Stinson, of CECOM G1. She drew a woman with her hand up, urging people to “speak up.” The third-place poster was designed by Linnea Tober, with CECOM. She created this poster on a computer using a combination of photo and digital art design. The poster depicts people making a heart with their hands around a teal ribbon.
“What inspired me, as a SHARP victim advocate, I feel the most important thing for survivors is to know they are not alone,” Tober said.
The posters will be displayed this month at various SAAPM events.
Brown said she is proud to support SAAPM by wearing a teal badge. As a police officer, Brown has led several efforts to engage with the community, like organizing the annual installation back-to-school backpack drive.
“I love that they put the information out [about SHARP] because a lot of people are not aware,” she said. “People ask about why we wear the teal badges and ask about the teal ribbons by the Harford Gate; we make sure all the police officers know why we are wearing them.”
More information and resources
On May 2, the annual SHARP Summit will be hosted at the Mallette Auditorium and on MS Teams from 9 a.m. to noon. It is open to the APG community, community partners, and APG outlying organizations.
This program will raise awareness about the impact of sexual harassment and assault on mental health and well-being and provide training and resources to individuals and organizations on how to prevent and respond to sexual harassment and assault.
To contact the SHARP 24-hour on-call Response Hotline, call 410-322-7154. To contact the DOD Safe Helpline, call 1-877-995-5247, or www.safehelpline.og.
To view more photos, visit APG kicks off SAAPM with teal badge ceremony, proclamation signing-April 3, 2024 | Flickr and SAAPM photo contest-April 3, 2024 | Flickr.
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