21 OCT 2020
FM: CHDIRAUX
TO: ALAUX
ALAUX 031/20
Subj: SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION, RESPONSE, AND RECOVERY (SAPRR) UPDATE
1. ALCOAST 369/20 was released on September 29, 2020 and is provided in its entirety below. It makes clear that the Commandant’s Sexual Assault Prevention, Response, and Recovery (SAPRR) vision is a Coast Guard where all members of our mission ready total workforce…active duty, Reserve, civilian and Auxiliary…live and work in a climate of trust, respect, and dignity; are leaders who take prompt action to correct any behavior counter to this climate; and do not stand by and allow it to occur. The ALCOAST also highlights recent actions taken by the Coast Guard to enhance its readiness and support for SAPRR management including the addition of new Victim Advocates Program Specialist (VAPS) positions.
2. Auxiliarists are not full-time federal employees, and as such are not subject to many of the provisions of the Coast Guard’s SAPRR Program defined in Commandant Instruction Manual 1754.10 (series) which provides the foundation for ALCOAST 369/20. It is most important, though, for Auxiliarists to be aware that they are entitled to initial consultation and referral services from a Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC), credentialed volunteer Victim Advocate, or a VAPS when sexual assault is reported or alleged while assigned to duty. Such services include referral to the Department of Labor (DOL) for consultation.
3. Contact information for the SARC nearest you can be found at: https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Human-Resources-CG-1/Health-Safety-and-Work-Life-CG-11/Office-of-Work-Life-CG-111/Sexual-Assault-Prevention-Response-and-Recovery-Program/Sexual-Assault-Response-Coordinator-Contact-List/
4. Additionally, Auxiliarists are authorized to use the DoD Safe Helpline mentioned in paragraph 2.c. of the ALCOAST. This helpline can assist an individual whether they have recently experienced sexual assault or if it occurred long ago. DoD Safe Helpline staff will listen to a caller’s needs and concerns and discuss their long and short-term safety, resources, and options. They can help identify a caller’s nearest SARC and SAPRR Victim Advocate (VA). Perhaps most importantly, trained staff will be there to provide support and let a caller know that they are not alone. DoD Safe Helpline contact information follows: https://www.safehelpline.org/telephone / (877) 955-5247 [or (202) 540-5962 if unable to call toll-free].
(Please note that some of the hyperlinked web sites embedded in the ALCOAST
will not be accessible if you do not have access to the dot-mil domain.)
R 291430 SEP 20
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//DCMS//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N01754//
ALCOAST 369/20
COMDTNOTE 1754
SUBJ: SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION, RESPONSE AND RECOVERY (SAPRR) UPDATE NUMBER TWO
A. Sexual Assault Prevention, Response, and Recovery Strategic Plan 2018-2022
B. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 311130 JUL 20/ALCOAST 292/20
C. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 080802 JAN 20/ALCOAST 003/20
D. Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Program, COMDTINST M1754.10 (series)
E. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 170908 JUN 20/ALCOAST 238/20
F. Discipline and Conduct, COMDTINST M1600.2 (series)
1. Per REF (A), the Commandant’s SAPRR vision is a Coast Guard where all members of our mission ready total workforce – Active Duty, Reserve, Civilian and Auxiliary live and work in a climate of trust, respect, and dignity; where all members are leaders who take prompt action to correct any behavior counter to this climate; and who do not stand by and allow it to occur. Your senior leadership team urges all members to take a stand against behaviors on the “Continuum of Harm” that includes both sexual harassment and sexual assault and declare “Not on our Watch.”
2. To demonstrate the ongoing commitment to achieving the Commandant’s vision, the USCG SAPRR program and the USCG-wide SAPRR Committee provide the following update on policy, program, and resource changes made since we published update one in January 2020:
a. We have added twelve Victim Advocates Program Specialist (VAPS) positions to our workforce. The VAPS will work with the regional Sexual Assault Response Coordinators (SARCs) to provide direct support to field units and victims of sexual assault. The positions will be filled in early FY21.
b. At the end of July we released REF (B), “Confiding in Another Person.” This significant policy change allows sexual assault victims to confide in a friend or family member without voiding their choice of filing a Restricted Report. The SAPRR program, FORCECOM, CG Investigative Service, Public Affairs staffs, and others are working to update training curricula, investigation data capture forms, surveys, webpages, and other documents, to ensure a comprehensive policy-change roll-out. “Frequently Asked Questions” about the “Confiding in Another Person” policy are posted on the COMDT (CG-11) SAPRR and DCMS SAPRR Portal pages, noted in paragraphs 2.d. and 4 below. You may also contact your servicing SARC or VA regarding policy questions. By adopting “Confiding in Another Person,” we can support persons victimized by sexual assault and eliminate barriers to reporting.
c. As stated in REF (C), the prosecution of sexual assault – a felony offense– takes priority over any discipline for minor collateral misconduct. The USCG SAPRR Committee measured the collateral misconduct prosecution rate and affirmed that only two percent of all collateral misconduct charges are acted upon. The bottom line is that members should not let collateral misconduct prevent the timely and proper reporting of a sexual assault. Please review REF (B) and perhaps confide in a friend, or speak with a Chaplain if you are unsure of reporting a sexual assault. The feedback and advice they provide may help alleviate worry in the decision to file a Restricted or Unrestricted Report. If you have ever been victimized and desire sexual assault assistance of any kind, you are encouraged to reach out to your unit VA, your SARC, or CGSUPRT at: https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/hswlsc/work-life_division/Shared%20Documents/CGSUPRT%20Resources/Promotional%20Materials/CG%20SUPRT%20Overview%20General.pdf. Our SARCs, VAs, and Health, Safety and Work-Life personnel are ready to support you, virtually, or in person, even during these challenging COVID-19 times. Additionally, the DOD Safe Helpline at https://www.safehelpline.org/nearme or the Safe Help Line App for IOS and Android is available for 24/7 anonymous, confidential support.
d. The USCG’s commitment to victim recovery is as resolute as the USCG’s commitment to preventing Sexual Assault and eliminating it from our Service. The USCG SAPRR program is updating REF (D) to include Recovery-focused policies and a Recovery Care Plan. The program recently contracted for Certified Clinical Trauma Professional training for all SARCs to develop a comprehensive victim recovery system and certify SARCs to train VAs and unit leaders, further expanding the circle of recovery-oriented personnel. These are crucial steps toward our strategic goal of ensuring each victim the best probability of becoming a survivor and achieving favorable long-term physical, mental and spiritual health outcomes. More information about this training initiative will be posted on the SAPRR program website at: https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Human-Resources-CG-1/Health-Safety-and-Work-Life-CG-11/Office-of-Work-Life-CG-111/Sexual-Assault-Prevention-and-Response-Program/ /.
e. We continue to cultivate our relationship with the DOD Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO). SAPRO recently launched “Innovations in Sexual Assault Prevention Pilot Program” (ISAPPP) to measure the impact of sexual assault prevention activities and selected two CG projects for ISAPPP inclusion. These two projects, “The Area Commander’s Toolkit,” which launched with the joint Area Commander’s Culture of Respect Video, (https://www.dvidshub.net/video/735480/respect-yourself-and-respect-each-other) and also TRACEN Petaluma’s Recognize, Evaluate, Assess responsibility, Confirm appropriate action, and Take action (R.E.A.C.T) interactive training program will receive SAPRO’s contract support to develop a prevention evaluation plan including strategy, metrics and measurement tactics. We look forward to the kick-off of these ISAPPP projects in FY21.
3. The Catch a Serial Offender (CATCH) initiative has made an immediate impact for USCG victims. As reported in REF (C), the CATCH program offers sexual assault victims who make a Restricted Report an opportunity to anonymously disclose suspect information. In the past six months, seven USCG sexual assault victims made CATCH entries and five matches were identified within the Department of Defense (DOD) sexual assault database. As a result, victims who originally made Restricted Reports voluntarily converted to Unrestricted Reports. CGIS now has multiple victim reports to use to conduct criminal investigations. The USCG has the most CATCH matches of the five armed services. Our courageous USCG members who used this tool, and felt empowered to convert their reports to Unrestricted are contributing in holding offenders accountable. USCG participants in the CATCH program are loudly proclaiming, “Not on our Watch.” For more information on CATCH, go to: https://www.sapr.mil/catch, or https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/dcms/saprr/SitePages/Home.aspx then click “CATCH” under the heading, “Useful Links.”
4. The SAPRR Committee had developed an Action Plan to focus efforts through FY22. This Action Plan is available to view on the newly created DCMS SAPRR Portal Page at: https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/dcms/saprr/SitePages/Home.aspx. The three Committee focus areas – Data Sources and Findings (DSF), Leadership and Positive Culture (L&PC), and Accountability and Transparency (AT) – include distinct goals but will yield results that are cross-cutting and have the same objective, ending sexual assault in the CG.
5. Together we must ensure that every member of our Service takes personal ownership of our Core Value of Respect. Respect does not tolerate sexual assault. Respect does not tolerate sexual harassment. Respect does not tolerate the behaviors that lead to sexual harassment and assault. Together, we will end sexual assault in our CG, “On OUR Watch.”
6. Point of Contact: For questions pertaining to this update or the Coast Guard’s SAPRR Program contact CAPT Stephanie Morrison at (202) 372-1599 or at Stephanie.A.Morrison@uscg.mil
7. VADM M. McAllister, Deputy Commandant for Mission Support, sends.
8. Internet release is authorized.
If you have a question regarding this ALAUX, please seek resolution within your Chain of Leadership and Management (COLM) including up to your servicing District Director of Auxiliary (DIRAUX). If your question still cannot be resolved after that, then please email CGAUX@uscg.mil.
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