Sexual assault awareness relies on good wingmen

  • Published
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  All Airmen have a professional duty as wingmen to intervene and prevent sexual assault, that is the message Sexual Assault Response Coordinators want Team Little Rock to remember.

"On or off duty, real wingmen take responsibility even when faced with difficult situations, including making unpopular choices," said Linda Benjamin, 19th Airlift Wing SARC office. "Sexual assault is a crime and is a departure from Air Force core values."

According to a recent Gallup survey conducted with active-duty Airmen and academy cadets, 2,143 women and 1,355 men were sexually assaulted in the past year. A majority of victims reported their assailant was a fellow Airman. The complete survey report can be reviewed at www.af.mil.

"Sexual assault is one of the most under-reported crimes in America," said Ms. Benjamin. "Our goal is to create an environment of trust in which victims feel comfortable reporting sexual assault. Leadership is the key to making that goal a reality."

Air Force leaders expressed their commitment to eliminating sexual assault crimes.

In a recent letter to Airmen, Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz said, "Sexual assault is a crime, and there is no place for this behavior in our Air Force. We demand better of ourselves. Airmen cannot allow this destructive behavior to persist in our Air Force."

SARC members conduct regular bystander intervention training to help Airmen combat this silent threat. To register for bystander intervention training, visit the 19th AW Sexual Assault Prevention and Response office's Community of Practice web page at https://afkm.wpafb.af.mil.

"The purpose of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program is to prevent and respond to sexual assault through a balance of focused education, compassionate advocacy, and accountability to promote respect and dignity throughout the Air Force," said Ms. Benjamin.

For more information or to sign up as a victim advocate, call the SARC office at 987-2685.