April marks Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Published April 1, 2011
By Laurie Brock
87th Air Base Wing Sexual Assault Response Coordinator

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Sexual Assault Awareness month occurs in April nationally and within the Department of Defense. The month is designated as an extension of a variety of yearly events to further raise awareness, prevent and eliminate sexual assault through public education.

This year's theme "Hurts One. Affects All," recognizes the impact on total force personnel and mission readiness, encourages our personnel to continue to take care of each through proactive bystander intervention.

The slogan "Don't Standby... Stand Up and Act" helps to prevent behaviors that are contrary to our culture, our core values and our ability to support not only our joint mission, each other as well.

I believe we can stop sexual violence by talking to each other and respecting sexual choices. First, understand "No Means No," not Yes! Take the time to recognize the signs (verbally or physically) when someone does not want to give into your sexual advances.

Recently, Gallup conducted a survey of active-duty Airmen and Academy cadets to assess personal sexual assault. The results were profound and further foot stomped our compelling need to do all we can to safely protect our Airmen. The survey findings can be found at www.sapr.mil. I encourage you to "Speak Up and Speak Out against Sexual Assault...It's time to communicate...It's time to talk to our friends, family and colleagues" about sexual assault prevention. Stop victim-blaming because it's not their fault. Let's focus on changing behaviors that are so prevalent among those who are accused, making "potential perps" more accountable for their accusatory behaviors, not the victim survivor.

As the installation SARC, these are my messages during SAAM and throughout the year, encouraging each of us to look at how we treat each other, intimately and otherwise, at work, at play and home.

Currently, we've provided total force SAPR annual training to about 2,400 AF active-duty, reserve and civilian supervisors of military personnel and will keeping pressing until all get the DoD SAPR message. After all, it's our duty and our responsibility to take care and look out for each other by sustaining our military history, culture and our people to continue to protect our freedoms in every society, today and tomorrow. To learn more about prevention and elimination through bystander intervention find more at www.myduty.mil.

SAAM activities and events throughout the month are intended to impart the message "sexual assault will not be tolerated within our Air Force or in our local communities where military and civilian personnel reside." JB MDL will kick off the month with a Joint Service Prevention and Awareness Installation Commanders' Covenant and Community Partners' Pledge Signing and social, at 9 a.m., April 1 at the Tommy B's Community Activities Center. The event will further demonstrate our collective community partnership and commitment to end sexual violence, on and off installation throughout the month.

We'll culminate our 7th annual SAAM with a family candlelight vigil in Falcon Courts North family housing supported by United Communities to include a potluck at the Saxton Community Center, April 22, 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. which will add a finishing touch celebrating survivors who may be family members, civilians and active duty personnel.

We will also use the venue to spread the word to potential perpetrators that we are watching, we will intervene, and if necessary report to the SARC, leadership and local law enforcement. For more information, potluck donations or if you would like become an AF bystander intervention trainer, victim advocate, you can contact the 87th Air Base Wing SAPR Office or me directly at laure.brock@us.af.mil or (609) 203-6134.

I encourage you to join me and your JB MDL leadership at these events.

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