Navy attempts culture change on sexual assaults

In a Saturday April 7, 2012 photo a volunteer hands out Navy Sexual Assault Prevention and Response ribbons to help spread awareness of sexual assault at the Pearl Harbor Commissary in Hawaii. Department of Defense service members and civilian volunteers bagged groceries while handing out information on sexual assault prevention and response policies and programs. The “Bag Sexual Assault” event had the theme “Hurts one. Affects all. Preventing sexual assault is everyone’s duty.”

Released, AP Photo/U.S. Navy photo, Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Mark Logico

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A Friday April 6, 2012 photo provided by the US Navy shows a sign that is displayed describing the 611 pairs of shoes lining the sidewalk in front of Sharkey Theater before a sexual assault event at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii. The shoes represent the number of sexual assault victims within the Navy last year. Training emphasized that sexual assault prevention is everyone’s duty while promoting Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Released, AP Photo/U.S. Navy photo, Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ronald Gutridge

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In this Friday April 6, 2012 photo provided by the US Navy Rear Adm. Frank Caldwell, commander of Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, delivers remarks during a sexual assault awareness event at Sharkey Theater at Pearl Harbor-Hickam base in Hawaii. The event emphasized that sexual assault prevention is everyone’s duty and promoted April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

U.S. Navy photo, Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ronald Gutridge, Associated Press

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A Tuesday June 5, 2012 photo provided by the US navy shows more than 1,200 service members view the “No Zebras, No Excuses” performance at the U.S. Naval Base Guantanamo Bay outdoor downtown lyceum. The production challenges sexual assault myths and stereotypes, and helps audiences recognize behavior that leads to sexual assault and how to take purposeful action to prevent the crime.

Released, AP Photo/U.S. Navy photo, Lt. Lauryn Dempsey

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NORFOLK, Va. — The Navy is putting unprecedented attention on reducing sexual assaults among sailors this year.

High-ranking Navy leaders are likening it to their crusade years ago to stop rampant drug abuse. They say sexual abuse is not only dehumanizing to victims, but also threatens their operational readiness.

Most sexual assaults in the Navy occur after a night of drinking. Officials say many of them could be prevented if someone had spoken up sooner to stop that chain of events. There have been more than 600 sexual assaults involving Navy personnel reported in each of the past two years.

Under a Defense Department initiative, a higher level of command will start addressing the most serious sexual assault offenses starting Thursday. In the Navy, that's someone at the captain level.

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