ACC dispatches sexual assault assessment teams

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LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (ACCNS) --   Three six-person Sexual Assault Assessment Teams departed here March 2 with orders to conduct an all-inclusive review of sexual assault response programs throughout Air Combat Command.

The ACC effort is part of an Air Force-wide sexual assault assessment initiative directed by Secretary of the Air Force, Dr. James G. Roche, and Air Force Chief of Staff, General John P. Jumper.

While the assessment initiative will not review the disposition of individual cases or allegations, it will review all policies and programs in place at each ACC base. Members of the team are expected to provide senior leaders with a candid assessment of best practices, special issues, problems, and challenges.

In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee subcommittee on personnel Feb. 25 (See related article), Air Force Vice Chief of Staff General T. Michael Moseley minced no words while describing Air Force senior leaders commitment to addressing the problem of sexual assault and harassment.

Let me tell you the bottom line up front, General Moseley said. These are our people. These are our airmen. These are our kids, and we take this seriously. One (case of sexual harassment) is too many.

The team led by Brig. Gen. Stephen Miller, ACCs inspector general, is scheduled to visit Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.; Barksdale AFB, La.; Davis Monthan AFB, Ariz.; and Shaw AFB, S.C.

The team led by Col. Mary Kay Hertog, ACCs director of security forces, is scheduled to visit Cannon AFB, N.M.; Holloman AFB, N.M.; Beale AFB, Calif.; and Nellis AFB, Nev..

The team led by Col. Ed Dixon, ACCs deputy director of personnel, is scheduled to visit Mountain Home AFB, Idaho; Minot AFB, N.D.; Ellsworth AFB, S.D.; Offutt AFB, Neb.; and Whiteman AFB, Mo.

The standard is clear: sexual assault and sexual harassment are inconsistent with our Air Force Core Values and impede our ability to perform the mission, said General Hal M. Hornburg, ACCs Commander (see sidebar). We must not waiver in our determination to rid the command of all sexual assault and sexual harassment our people and our mission are too important to demand anything less.

ACC will report findings of its assessment to the SECAF and CSAF in March.