“It’s not about one month, it’s not about one day or one week … it’s an ongoing effort,” said Col. David Gaugush, garrison commander describing the post’s domestic violence awareness program before signing a Domestic Violence Awareness Month proclamation, Sept.30.
Gaugush reaffirmed his commitment to a safe and respectful environment for all by signing the proclamation.
“This year’s theme is what’s inside matters and pause,” said Benita Cunningham, Family Advocacy Program manager. “What’s inside matters is for the victims of domestic violence. What is inside of you, your life matters and your story matters. And then the Pause campaign is for those who are maybe having anger management issues, or they have hurt someone. The idea is to pause and let’s see if we can get some help, some support, and help prevent domestic violence for the month.”
The proclamation states that “What’s Inside Matters” focuses on supporting those experiencing abuse and emphasizes that everyone deserves to feel safe and free from “emotional and/or physical harm.”
It also states “Pause” is directed towards those exhibiting harmful behaviors and encourages self-awareness and seeking help before those behaviors escalate.
“I don’t take for granted anymore that we’ve got a lot of folks out there that need our support,” Gaugush said before signing the proclamation. “They need resources. In some respects, it’s about changing behavior, and unfortunately, in other circumstances, it’s about accountability of misconduct and other types of behavior that might be just a bit harder to correct.”
“There’s always a victim associated with all these things, and I just want to say thank you for this team’s emphasis on what we do to illuminate this,” he added.
The month is part of the Army’s efforts to reduce domestic violence.
According to the Army Directorate of Prevention, Resilience and Readiness, DVAM is aimed at “maintaining a safe, healthy, and nurturing home environment is essential to the strength and readiness of our force. Our commitment to preventing domestic abuse must remain a daily, year-round priority. Every member of the Army community shares the responsibility to recognize the signs of abuse, intervene safely and support Families.”
Cunningham said there will be multiple events throughout October aimed at increasing awareness of domestic violence including “Honk and Wave” on Strom Thurmond Boulevard, from 9-11 a.m., Oct. 14.
Those experiencing abuse, or concerned about their behavior towards a partner can reach out 24/7 by calling (803) 429-4870.
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