'Real Wingmen Act,' motto for sexual assault awareness month

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Alexandria Mosness
  • 20 Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and Air Force leaders are stressing prevention, awareness and education . This year's Air Force theme: "Real Wingmen Act."

To raise awareness, people need to understand the magnitude of the problem, said Cynthia Evans, sexual assault response coordinator at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.

"If I have a class of 20 people I am teaching, on average I would say around 15 have been touched by sexual assault personally, or someone close to them," Ms. Evans said.

Beginning in 2005, the Air Force commenced the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program and assigned full-time sexual assault response coordinators at all main operating installations.

The SAPR program exists to not only educate military members, their families and civilian employees about sexual assault and its harsh reality, but also increase awareness, enhance risk reduction and most importantly to support survivors, Ms. Evans said.

The Air Force has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual assault. Additionally, behaviors that can lead to a sexual assault are completely opposite of the Air Force's core values. And, while many people look at sexual assault as something that can't happen to them, the facts prove otherwise.

"Approximately one in four women and one in 33 men are sexually assaulted," Ms. Evans said.

The SARC also addressed other common myths that are associated with sexual assault.

"Most people think assailants are the strangers in the black ski mask who jump out and get you," she said. "This is what media depicts, but the truth is 90 percent of child victims and 73 percent of victims over the age of 16 know their perpetrator. Also, more than half of reported sexual assaults occur within one mile of victim's home usually in a private residence."

Sexual assault does not discriminate against race, class, or religion; there are victims from every walk of life, Ms. Evans said. But, this does not mean Airmen can't do things to reduce the risk of being sexual assaulted.

Risk reduction, Ms. Evans said, includes things such as:
  • Trust your instincts;
  • Always have a wingman with you;
  • Be aware of your surroundings;
  • Don't drink too much.
"However, (all of these) still do not prevent sexual assault, but just reduces the risk," she added.

Prevention training now includes the new "bystander intervention" which was introduced last year.

"The new training (covers) intervening in questionable situations and stepping up in situations that have the potential to escalate to something bad, which could be preventing a sexual assault," Ms. Evans said. "The new training discusses how we can successfully intervene. We are all responsible to prevent sexual assault."

But, even with all the prevention sexual assault still occurs. The SAPR program is designed to help the victim during this time.

In the event you are assaulted, call the SARC and seek medical attention right away, Ms. Evans said. Don't shower, change your clothes, go to the bathroom or brush your teeth. You also should not eat or drink before you have been examined by a doctor.

Reporting options also play a vital role after someone has been sexually assaulted. Victims have two options for reporting sexual assault: restricted and unrestricted.

The restricted option allows the victim to disclose information about the assault to SARCs and victim advocates confidentially. Restricted reporting allows the victim to seek help without triggering an official investigation.

The other option for victims is unrestricted reporting. While restricted does not start an official investigation, unrestricted opens up this process. If reported through normal reporting channels, such as the victim's chain of command, law enforcement and the Air Force Office of Special Investigation, an investigation will have to be initiated

There is always help for those affected by sexual assault, Ms. Evans said.

"Recently I had an Air Force officer whose sister reported to her family she was raped," Ms. Evans said. "The sister was on a deployment on a ship in the middle of an ocean. The Air Force officer called me because they had taken away her sister's cell phone and put her on restrictive duty. The officer was very worried about her sister and didn't know what to do. When she couldn't get a hold of me because of poor cell reception she called the DoD safe helpline (877-995-5247), and they were able to get the ball rolling to get her sister off of the ship and get her immediate help. The bottom line is there is always someone to help."

For the military community as a whole, it's also important to remember that sexual assault does not just affect the victim.

"The consequence of one simple act reverberates throughout a unit and beyond," Ms. Evans added. "It starts with the victims, and then reaches to the family, friends and co-workers. This not only harms the victim, but it also degrades readiness and hinders the military's ability to work effectively and cohesively as one team.

This month, the SARC office here is hosting events to inform, inspire and instigate sexual assault awareness, to amend people's perceptions about assault, as well as provide prevention methods.

For more information about the SARC program or upcoming events, call 895-1928. For 24/7 sexual assault response and assistance, call 895-SARC.