by svanderwerff | 23 April 2015 [caption id="attachment_8569" align="aligncenter" width="445"] I'm energized to educating and letting my shipmates know they aren't alone if sexually assaulted. By Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class (FMF) Nathan Cole I?m a native of Toomsuba, Mississippi and graduated from Northeast Lauderdale High School in 2001. Because of the lack of jobs after graduating college I joined the Navy. I had always been interested in medicine, and when I found out about the hospital corpsman rate I knew it was what I wanted to become. By trade I?m an orthopaedic technician. I'm also leading petty officer of Naval Hospital Bremerton?s (NHB) Orthopaedic Clinic [caption id="attachment_8571" align="aligncenter" width="244"] When I found out about the hospital corpsman rate I knew it was what I wanted to become. My first duty station was at Naval Hospital 29 Palms from 2008-2010, and was an Individual Augmentee to Ar Ramadi, Iraq with 2nd Division 23 Marines.? Then it was off to San Antonio, Texas for Orthopaedic Technician "C" School, followed by a stint at Naval Hospital Rota from 2010-2012, before arriving here at NHB in 2012. Among my many collateral duties I?m the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) team's lead victim advocate. I became a victim advocate while in Spain. ?Because April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month I'm energized?to educating and letting my shipmates know they aren't alone if sexually assaulted.?It's?in my heart and soul. [caption id="attachment_8572" align="aligncenter" width="300"] I?m a victim advocate because I've had friends and family who have been sexually assaulted. I?m a victim advocate because I've had friends and family who have been sexually assaulted. They weren?t able to get the professional attention needed to help overcome such a traumatic experience. When I found out about the SAPR program, I immediately knew that I wanted to be a part of the team. The level of importance of SAPR and having April designated Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month is beyond explaining. The training we receive is amazing, but we are still discovering that our overall comprehension of this crime is lacking. [caption id="attachment_8573" align="aligncenter" width="300"] It?s everyone?s responsibility to eliminate and stop sexual assault. The one message that I hope staff members and shipmates remember about Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month is to please understand that it?s everyone?s responsibility to eliminate and stop sexual assault. If you see something, say something. [caption id="attachment_8574" align="aligncenter" width="300"] When I found out about the SAPR program, I immediately knew that I wanted to be a part of the team. The best part about my Navy Medicine career has been being able to travel, meeting awesome people, and most of all helping out my fellow shipmates. And if I had to sum up my experience with Navy Medicine in one sentence, I would say, ?Navy Medicine is the best.? I?m Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Nathan Cole. I am Navy Medicine. [caption id="attachment_8570" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The level of importance of SAPR and having April designated Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month is beyond explaining. Editor?s Note: NHB?s multidisciplinary team is capable of handling any type of sexual assault case. Its staff is trained and ready to provide timely and appropriate medical care. Fourteen Sexual Assault Forensic Examinations (SAFE)?trained examiners and nine SAFE trained assistants have been trained the correct procedures evaluating a victim of sexual assault and how to effectively and compassionately go through a comprehensive course of action with the individual. The training is required annually. NHB also has 15 victim advocates, with more to assist if required. NHB?s SAPR program and SAFE capability provide a balance of focused education, comprehensive response, compassionate advocacy, and just adjudication to promote professionalism, respect, and trust, while preserving Navy mission readiness.