UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 181400Z AUG 09 BT UNCLAS FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC TO ALNAV BT UNCLAS ALNAV 055/09 MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/AUG// SUBJ/DON SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION SUMMIT// RMKS/1. IN MARCH 2009, THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY (DON) INITIATED AN UPDATE TO THE 2005 NAVAL INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORT ON THE DON?S SEXUAL ASSAULT AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS. THE PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF THIS EFFORT REVEAL THAT 58 PERCENT OF OUR SAILORS AND MARINES BELIEVE THAT SEXUAL ASSAULT REMAINS A PROBLEM INSIDE THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS TEAM. NAVY AND MARINE CORPS COMMANDERS, LEADERS AT EVERY LEVEL, AND ALL SAILORS AND MARINES MUST CONTRIBUTE TO A COMMAND CLIMATE THAT CONDEMNS SEXUAL ASSAULT OF ANY KIND, CARES FOR AND SUPPORTS VICTIMS OF THESE DESPICABLE ACTS, AND HOLDS OFFENDERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS. 2. I RECENTLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRIEF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE ON ALL NAVY AND MARINE CORPS SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE PROGRAMS. DESPITE ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE, WE MUST REDOUBLE OUR EFFORTS TO STAMP OUT ALL FORMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. TOWARD THAT END, ON 8 AND 9 SEPTEMBER 2009, I WILL BE JOINED BY THE MOST SENIOR MILITARY AND CIVILIAN LEADERS IN THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS AT THE FIRST DON SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION SUMMIT. WE WILL HEAR FROM THE BEST EXPERTS IN THE FIELD ABOUT THE NUMEROUS FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO SEXUAL ASSAULT AND HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM MOST EFFECTIVELY. 3. THE PURPOSE OF THIS SUMMIT WILL BE TO HELP REFINE THE DON?S SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION STRATEGY. NAVY AND MARINE CORPS WORKING GROUPS WILL MEET ON 10 SEPTEMBER 2009 TO BEGIN THIS CRITICAL EFFORT. THEY WILL BE SUPERVISED BY THE NEW OFFICE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE I AM ESTABLISHING WITHIN THE DON SECRETARIAT. THIS OFFICE WILL KEEP ME PERSONALLY APPRISED OF OUR PROGRESS TOWARD ENDING SEXUAL ASSAULT, IN ALL OF ITS FORMS, IN THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY, AND DEVELOPING WORLD- CLASS PROGRAMS TO HELP VICTIMS DEAL WITH THE AFTERMATH OF ASSAULTS. 4. I URGE EACH OF YOU TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND CONCERNS ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE WITH YOUR CHAIN OF COMMAND SO THAT YOUR SENIOR LEADERSHIP COMES TO THE SUMMIT PREPARED TO REPRESENT YOU. TOGETHER, WE CAN ELIMINATE THIS PROBLEM. THE NAVY-MARINE CORPS TEAM WILL BE MUCH STRONGER AS A RESULT. 5. RELEASED BY RAY MABUS, SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.// BT #0001 NNNN