Sexual assault prevention – we all play a vital role

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Cindy Rainey
  • 66th Medical Squadron superintendent
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Although Sexual Assault Prevention Month is almost officially over, the Air Force's focus on this important issue will continue. As Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley stated, "Sexual assault is absolutely inconsistent with our core values and it has no place in our Air Force."

Sexual assault prevention has long been a focus item for the Air Force and yet this crime continues to take its toll on our military family.

According to the 2010 Gallup Poll anonymous survey of sexual assaults in the Air Force, more than 17,000 men and women have experienced sexual assaults during their military careers. These are our mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, daughters, sons, friends and co-workers -- these are our family members. As this year's theme states, the crime of sexual assault "hurts one, affects all."

The Gallup Poll survey also showed that in the year prior to the survey closure, 2,143 women and 1,355 men indicated that they had been assaulted. This is in direct conflict to the results of the 2010 Department of Defense Annual report on Sexual Assault in the Military, which showed only 585 officially reported sexual assaults in the Air Force during the year. The difference in numbers from the two reports supports the fact that experts have long stated: sexual assault is one of the most underreported crimes in America, with less than one in five victims actually reporting their assault.

There are many reasons that victims don't report their assaults, but in the military there are added reasons. Gallup Poll survey participants gave their most common reasons for not reporting: not wanting other Airmen, superiors or family to know; distrust in the reporting process; and fear of retaliation or recurrence.

It is up to leaders at all levels to set the tone that sexual assault is a crime that will not be tolerated in our Air Force and to empower and encourage victims to come forward, report their assaults and get the help they need.

"I strongly encourage anyone who is affected by sexual assault to take a courageous stand and help bring perpetrators to justice," said Chief Master Sgt. James Roy, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force.

Gen. Norton Schwartz, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, also commented on the subject.

"Sexual assault is a crime that violates our core values," he said. "Leadership is key in creating an environment of trust in which all Airmen are safe."

When it comes to leadership, we can't rely solely on senior leaders. This is a crime that affects us all and, therefore, we all play an important role in its prevention. An important tool in this prevention is the bystander intervention training. This training helps to teach Airmen at all levels how to identify warning signs of vulnerability and how to intervene as wingmen. It also teaches what to do if you know of an assault so that you can assist victims. To be good wingmen, it is important that we all know and understand the reporting steps and options available to victims.

There are two types of reporting options: restricted and unrestricted.

The first step in reporting is to contact the base Sexual Assault Response Coordinator.

Restricted reporting to SARCs, medical providers, trained victim advocates or confidential reporting to chaplains is available to active duty or reservists on orders. This option allows the victim to obtain counseling and medical care without opening an official investigation. It also allows preservation of forensic evidence in case the victim later decides to change to an unrestricted report.

Unrestricted reporting enables the same support as restricted, however, the assault is also reported to the Office of Special Investigations (OSI), the victim's commander and a formal investigation is opened. It is important to note that once a victim's chain of command is aware of an assault, it automatically removes the option of restricted reporting.

The victim's chain of command must then report the crime through the SARC and OSI and initiate an official investigation. Therefore, in order to preserve a victim's rights, it is important that if you suspect someone is a victim of sexual assault, do not continue asking questions that might lead them to verify the assault. Instead, ask if they would like to see a medical provider, chaplain or SARC. This will allow them to be educated on all options and empowered to make an informed decision.

As leaders at all levels, we need to let it be known that we will all stand together to fight this battle, that we will be educated wingmen who know how to intervene and assist and that, as General Schwartz stated, "we won't rest until we eliminate this criminal behavior."

Hanscom Air Force Base SARC, Andrea Mckie, can be reached during normal duty hours at 781-225-6401 and after duty hours at 781-225-7272.