RICHMOND, Va. –
Brig. Gen. Todd Hubbard, Virginia National Guard Director of the Joint Staff, signed a proclamation designating April as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month April 2, 2025, at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia.
The proclamation reaffirms the VNG’s commitment to promoting a culture of dignity, respect and accountability, and focuses on this year’s theme of “Step Forward: Prevent. Report. Advocate.”
“While this month shines a spotlight on these issues, the VNG’s resiliency efforts continue year-round.” said Hubbard. “Our participation in Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month underscores the Virginia National Guard’s commitment to resiliency, the wellness of our people and, ultimately, the readiness of our forces.”
Brig. Gen. Chad Ellsworth, Commanding General of DLA Aviation, gave remarks during a ceremony, sharing why these commitments are so important.
“Having had a family member that was a victim, I understand what this really means, not only to our community here, but to our nation and around the world,” Ellsworth said. “Sexual assault and violence and harassment just can’t be tolerated. I have zero tolerance for it.”
Lt. Col. Glenda Davila, assistant chief of staff for the 80th Training Command, also signed the SAAPM proclamation.
In addition to the proclamation naming April as SAAPM, the DSCR tenet organizations also signed proclamations designating April as Month of the Military Child and Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month during a ceremony. David Gibson, site director of DLA Installation Management Richmond, and Ursula Hickox, chief of MWR Richmond, signed those proclamations.
Every April, the Department of Defense joins national, state and local government, schools, military serving organizations, companies and private citizens in celebrating military children and the sacrifices they make.
Zamora Logan, director of the child development center on DSCR, said the CDC focuses on building consistent relationships for military children, particularly because they frequently move and are sometimes separated from parents for months during deployments.
“It’s important at this age to build relationships with them because the relationships that we build between zero and five affect how they will build relationships as adults,” Logan said. “Oftentimes, children of military members move three to five times as children because they’re PCSing from different places. So, it can be hard for children to build those relationships and trust adults. When they do, we need to make sure we are a safe space for them.”
In addition to the signing ceremony, several VNG departments set up booths at a resource fair, including the Integrated Primary Prevention Workforce and the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office.
The VNG is co-hosting events at DSCR over the course of the month with the Defense Logistics Agency and the 80th Training Command. More information is available at https://vngpao.info/bddvnm53.
(Additional reporting by Wendy Arevalo, DLA Aviation Public Affairs)