Russell Strand Speaks with Maine Guardsmen on Combatting Sexual Violence in the Military

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AUGUSTA, ME (05/21/2015)(readMedia)-- Russell Strand, the Chief of the Behavioral Sciences Education and Training Division at the Military Police School at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri spoke Thursday with Maine Guardsmen on strategies to combat sexual violence in the military.

Strand presented service members in Augusta and Bangor with information to help them recognize and prevent instances of sexual assault from occurring.

Brig. Gen. Gerard Bolduc, the Acting Adjutant General for the Maine National Guard, attended the training and expressed the importance of ensuring a safe environment within the Maine Guard.

"[The Maine National Guard] will not tolerate any instance of sexual harassment or sexual abuse," said Bolduc. "There is no place for these crimes in our organization. We are a family and must look out for each other and prevent these incidents from happening."

Strand has specialized expertise, experience and training in the area of domestic violence intervention, critical incident peer support, and sexual assault, trafficking in persons and child abuse investigations.

Most instances of sexual assault go unreported, Strand said. Only 39% of women and 13% of men will report a sexual assault.

"We must teach why and how real warriors seek help after sexual assault," said Strand.

The Maine National Guard is committed to eliminating incidents of sexual assault through sustained senior leader involvement, increasing awareness through education and awareness programs and providing methods to effectively intervene on behalf of fellow guard members.

For further information, please contact the Maine National Guard Public Affairs Officer, Captain Norman Stickney, (207) 430-5759, or norman.j.stickney.mil@mail.mil.