Beale caps off Sexual Assault Awareness Month with a 'jump'

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Robert M. Trujillo
  • 9th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs
BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., --  More than 70 Airmen "jumped" into prevention as a part of a Beale Air Force Base, Calif., event promoting sexual assault awareness month using skydiving at Lincoln Regional Airport April 27.

Jump Into Prevention was coordinated with a local skydiving company and hosted by Beale's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program staff which provided jumpers with lunch and information about the many programs and services they provide.

"This is our way of raising awareness about sexual assault," said Dr. Michael Stacy, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program director. "We get a lot of people interested in our prevention programs by having this event."

Dr. Stacy said he started the skydiving event 4 years ago in honor of Operation Freefall, which was founded by a rape victim Kellie Greene. Five years after her attack, she used skydiving as part of her emotional healing and to bring awareness to sexual assault.

Participating members jumped tandem with an instructor at approximately 13,000 feet over Placer County, Calif.

Two Airmen skydiving for the first time were Col. Phil Stewart, 9th Reconnaissance Wing vice commander and Chief Master Sgt. Robert White 9th RW, command chief.

"It was a lot of fun and it was for a very worthwhile cause," said Stewart. "This is an issue that we need to raise awareness and lower the occurrences. It's about preventing sexual assault, it's about respect for our Airmen and treating everybody with the respect they deserve."

Dr. Stacy said he plans to continue the annual event due to its popularity and zero cost to the Air force.

"It definitely helps spread the word, especially throughout active duty," said Tech. Sgt. Nicole Hicks, 9th RW command chief executive. "After they jump they go and tell all their family and friends, 'Hey I did this for Sexual Assault Awareness Month and we jumped into prevention, come with me next year, it's awesome.'"