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Wings gather for assault-awareness

  • Published
  • By Airman Tara A. Williamson
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  The 87th Air Base and the 621st Contingency Response wings held a Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Stand-Down Day June 19, 2013.

The Secretary of Defense recently mandated all military branches conduct a SAPR stand-down day, for military and civilian personnel, no later than July 1, 2013, to focus on the zero tolerance policy of sexual assault and harassment in the military.

Personnel from both wings began training at Big Beige with an introduction from Col. Martin Chapin, 621st Contingency Response Wing commander.

"A lot of you may think you're here because of what you read in the media, what you read in the newspapers, what you see, what you hear," said Chapin to attendees. "(The media) is not why you're here today. Today is about the mission and the Air Force core values. The topics we're talking about today degrade our mission and are 100 percent contrary to our Air Force core values."

The morning also contained a video from Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody regarding the topic of sexual assault and the impact on Airmen, families and units.

Chief Master Sgt. Sandra Rios, 87th Force Support Squadron superintendent, with took the stage Senior Master Sgt. Kevin Craig, 818th Contingency Response Group superintendent, to explain sexual harassment to the Airmen in attendance.

"What is sexual harassment? Equal Opportunity people, if I say something wrong, come correct me, please," Rios called out to lighten the mood. "If you use coercion in the workplace to get somebody to do something in return for sexual favors, that's sexual harassment. If you repeatedly use language in the workplace that creates a hostile work environment, that's sexual harassment."

She also explained that sexual harassment does not need to be between two parties.

"I could refer to Sergeant Craig here as 'sergeant hottie,'" she said. "He may or may not be offended by that, but somebody else might be. If that person is, that's still sexual harassment."

Col. John Wood, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst commander, concluded the commander's call with words about the dangers of alcohol and poor judgment.

"Alcohol is not our friend when it comes to sexual assault," he warned the audience. "Pay attention. Be a good wingman. Have a plan. If you're going out to have a fun time, have a fun time. But if your wingman is just as drunk as you are, you don't have a wingman anymore."

A wingman 2.5 -mile fun run on the McGuire airfield immediately followed the call for attending personnel and ended the morning group activities.

The colonels then dismissed personnel to continue training at the unit level to conduct small-group discussions and review videos about bystander intervention, offenders and victims of sexual assault.

Anyone in need of the SAPR program or a Sexual Assault Response Coordinator can call (609) 754-2988. Other helpful numbers are the staff Judge Advocate at (609) 754-2010, Equal Opportunity at (609) 754-8273 for McGuire and Dix and the Chapels at (609) 754-4673.