VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia –
More than 30 Soldiers and civilians from a variety of National Guard organizations participated in a Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Credentialed Education Unit Refresher course Aug. 18-22, 2025, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Participants included victim advocates from the Virginia National Guard, Delaware National Guard, Pennsylvania National Guard and National Guard Bureau, as well as members of the Virginia National Guard Integrated Primary Prevention Workforce. The course included training in ethics, advocacy, crisis intervention, employing resiliency, and a forensic unit tour at the Portsmouth Naval Hospital.
“The refresher training helps set up credentialed Victim Advocates and SARCs for success and gives them tools and resources useful for their duties,” said Brent M. Hart Jr, Virginia National Guard Joint Force Headquarters Principal Sexual Assault Response Coordinator.
The refresher training is offered twice each fiscal year. All Department of Defense Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Program credentialed Victim Advocates and SARCs, whether full time or collateral duty, must complete 32 hours of Credentialed Education Units every two years, including two hours of ethics training, explained Hart.
“We offer the course twice a year so Victim Advocates and SARCS from all 54 states and territories can get their required CEUs,” Hart said. “Leaders are invited once a year so they can get a better understanding of the Sexual Assault Program.”
Click HERE for more information about the VNG Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program.