Defense News: NAS Pensacola Fleet and Family Services (FFSC) Provides Domestic Violence Education, Resources

Source: United States Navy

“Ongoing efforts to ensure each and every service member, civilian employee and family member is aware of domestic violence reporting procedures and available resources is a top priority of not only NAS Pensacola, but throughout military communities,” said NAS Pensacola FFSC Director R. Train Hatton. “It’s critical that everyone knows how domestic violence can erode mission confidence and the steps they can take individually to ensure that they – or someone with whom they work – know of programs which can provide assistance.”

According to Hatton, reporting incidents of domestic abuse are either restricted (sometimes referred to as private or confidential reporting) that can preserve the privacy of victims and limit who is involved; or unrestricted reporting, where victims can enlist law enforcement to conduct an investigation of the incident, which includes contacting the alleged abuser.

“It’s important to remember that victims in domestic violence situations are varied, and can extend beyond spouses of military members,” Hatton said. “Victims can include individuals who are dating or living together, married or who have children in common.”

Hatton added that the NAS Pensacola Family Advocacy Program (FAP) is always available to support victims and others affected by domestic abuse, whether they are at a point where they want to leave their partner or are just looking for information. These trained and credentialed individuals work with victims to develop a safety plan and can connect them to emergency services, counseling and emotional support, housing and shelter, and financial and legal services. Additionally, the National Domestic Violence Hotline (www.thehotline.org/) at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) provides essential tools and support to help survivors of domestic violence and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

NAS Pensacola, referred to as the “Cradle of Naval Aviation,” is designed to support operational and training missions of tenant commands, including the Naval Aviation Technical Training Center (NATTC), Naval Aviation Schools Command (NASC), the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training (CNATT), Marine Aviation Training Support Groups (MATSG) 21 and 23 and is the headquarters for Naval Education and Training Command (NETC).