Month seeks to heighten awareness

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Nicole Leidholm
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The month of April is designated as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The goal of SAAM is to raise awareness about sexual violence, focusing on sexual assault and rape, and to educate communities and individuals on how to prevent sexual violence.

SAAM provides an annual opportunity to reinforce the commitment to strengthening the professional climate across the armed forces where the cultural imperatives of mutual respect and trust, team commitment and professional values are reinforced to create an environment in which sexist behaviors, sexual harassment and sexual assault are not condoned, tolerated or ignored.

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 Travis Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office has held opportunities to participate in Sexual Assault Awareness Month during April.

"These events are a way for base leadership and all Airmen to show support to the survivors and for the program because this is a topic that deserves attention," said Capt. Erin Mires, Deputy Sexual Assault Response Coordinator.

One of the events included a viewing of "Invisible War" at the Base Theater.

Mires said approximately 50 individuals attended the viewing and of them, approximately 30 stayed for the discussion following the movie.

"The discussion brought up some good topics," Mires said. "It brought up publicizing court-martials more rather than just on the (Judge Advocate) website, (http://www.afjag.af.mil) such as in the base newspaper. There were also ideas about publicizing bystander intervention so an Airman's good deed doesn't go unnoticed."

On April 9, SafeQuest Solano, formerly known as Solano Women's Crisis Center, a non-profit, off-base agency located in Fairfield that provides help after domestic violence and sexual assaults, held Solano Speaks Out 2014, where members of the community who work first-hand with sexual assaults as well as survivors of sexual assaults spoke to bring awareness to the community. Mires spoke on behalf of Travis at the event.

SafeQuest Solano provides 24-hour crisis line, state-certified emergency shelter for survivors and their children, safety planning, threat assessment and management, intensive case management and many more various programs. All victim services are free of charge, confidential and offered in English, Tagalog and Spanish.

There is one training left for the month of April that is mandatory for all Airmen under the age of 26.

"It's important our Airmen take these training opportunities to learn how to recognize and intervene in a potentially unsafe situation," said Col. Corey Martin, 60th Air Mobility Wing commander.

The He Said-She Said performances, which will be put on by Campus Outreach, will focus on alcohol, sexual assault and responsible decision making. Participants will understand: How alcohol impacts decision making abilities when it comes to relationships and romantic encounters; Department of Defense, Air Force and Travis statistics relating to sexual assaults where alcohol or another drug is present; what constitutes consent under the law in sexual relationships; bystander intervention skills and more.

"We want to assist base leadership in educating Airmen across the force on prevention of the crime of sexual assault," Mires said.

Martin said for Travis to be successful, base personnel needs to be able to trust one another.

"Sexual assaults break that trust," he said. "We need everyone to work together to resolve this issue."

Sexual assault training will also roll into May. On May 13, there will be two training sessions held by Anne Munch, co-developer on Air Force SAPR and bystander intervention training. The first, Sexual Assault Dynamics, will be held at 9 a.m., at the Base Theater for all commanders, chiefs and first sergeants. This training will cover topics of victim and offender dynamics, cultural influence on sexual assaults.

The second is Meeting the Consent Defense at 1 p.m., at the Base Theater for all first responders, legal personnel, office of special investigation personnel, victim advocates, mental health personnel and Chaplains.

Finally, on May 23, there will be a self-protection seminar from 8 a.m. to noon. Anyone who has base access and is over the age of 15 is eligible to attend. Contact Mires at 424-1105 for more information and how to register.

"We have three full time SARCs and 37 volunteer VAs that help more than 60,000 individuals from the Travis area," Mires said. "I'd like to say thank you to our VAs, we couldn't do it without them."

For more information on sexual assault awareness month or upcoming training, contact Mires at 424-1105. To get in touch with one of the SARCs or a VA regarding a sexual assault, call 424-7272 or the DoD safe helpline at 877-995-5247.

"Travis has a zero tolerance policy for sexual assaults," Martin said. "Travis will pursue any and all sexual assault cases that are brought to leadership's attention at any level."