New SAPR to provide victims options, information

  • Published
  • By Alyssa Shaffer
  • 19th Airlift Wing protocol office
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  To reinforce the Air Force's commitment to eliminating incidents of sexual assault, officials here have debuted a new Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Web site to raise awareness and provide prevention training, education, and victim advocacy.

"Sexual assault is absolutely inconsistent with our core values and it has no place in our Air Force; in a deployed context, at or anywhere in between," said Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley.

Although 521 cases of sexual assault were recorded in the Air Force Fiscal Year 2008 report, statistics show only 16 percent of rapes are reported to the police. In order to eliminate these statistics, the Little Rock Air Force Base Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office utilizes the newly developed Air Force Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program Web site. The site includes valuable information about how to identify, report and recover from sexual assault crimes. 

Sexual Assault Response Coordinator Frank Cope says this site will greatly benefit the program. 

"We try to make the program as accessible as possible," Mr. Cope said. "The Web site was long overdue." 

The site is a beneficial supplement to the SAPR program, which has been running for almost five years. Mr. Cope believes the Web site will become one of many valuable resources for the community. 

"We are making sure people know that the SAPRO is here to assist," said Mr. Cope. 

The SAPRO staff strives to make their presence known in order to deliver ample information about SAPR programs and policies. They deliver presentations at events such as the newcomers' orientation, commanders' call, and deployment in-processing and out-processing briefings. 

By giving away handouts, cups and pens, Mr. Cope says they are able to make people aware of their contact information on a daily basis. 

The site includes several contacts if people are involved in sexual assault cases. These include the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, the Department of Defense Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program, and Military One Source. A list of SAPROs on various Air Force bases provides access to multiple resources no matter where someone is assaulted. 

In addition to numerous contacts, the site also teaches visitors about ways to identify and avoid dangerous situations. Visitors also discover how to help another person if they find him or her in a threatening situation. Mr. Cope explains that any bystander witnessing a potential sexual assault can simply approach the people involved in the situation, take a picture of the assaulter on their cell phone and record the victim's and assaulter's phone numbers. This alerts both parties you can contact law enforcement if any form of sexual assault occurs. He also suggested three people should collectively handle the situation to ensure the safety of the victim. 

"Any one of us can intervene in those kinds of situations," said Mr. Cope.
When sexual assault incidents occur, victims are encouraged to report their cases immediately. Afterwards, he or she may choose to keep or disclose their information to law enforcement and his or her commanders. 

The program also offers medical help, mental health counseling and victim advocates. Victim advocates provide connections to several resources and emotional support for the victim. The process is voluntary and continues for as long as the victim wishes. 

"The program is victim-focused," Mr. Cope said. "We support them through the whole process." 

For more information, call the Little Rock Air Force Base SAPRO at 501-987-2697 or the Sexual Assault hotline at 501-987-7272. Airmen may also visit the new Web site at http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/library/sapr/index.asp.

( Staff Sgt. Steve Grever, Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs, contributed to this article.)