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Who to call

By Senior Airman Gino Reyes, 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs / Published December 01, 2011

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SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Sexual assault continues to be an issue worldwide even in the military. In 2005, the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) program was activated to reinforce the Dept of Defense's commitment to eliminate incidents of sexual assault through awareness and prevention training, education, victim advocacy, response, reporting and accountability.

"We are here to make sure we provide a victim safety and security, a place to vent and be validated and to provide knowledge and access to the necessary resources they may need to begin their healing process," said Bernie Roy, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response assistant.

In the Air Force 1 in 3 women are sexually assaulted. Statistically Airmen E-1 to E-4, ages 17 to 24, are the most at-risk.

If a servicemember is the victim of a sexual assault, there are options in the way they can report the incident.

Restricted reporting may be available only if the report is made to the SARC, victim advocate or healthcare provider. This means the victim will receive counseling, medical treatment if necessary and offered a victim advocate without initiating an official investigation.

With an unrestricted report, if the incident is reported through the victim's chain of command, disclosed by an independent report , reported to law enforcent , or requested by the victim, an official investigation will occur. In an unrestricted report the victim will still receive counseling, medical treatment if needed and a victim advocate.

"We do not help or advise the perpetrators in any incident, we only care for the victims," said Nancy P. Pike, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response officer here.

The saying around the Air Force is to be a good wingman. Each Airman is expected to take care of one another and report incidents to your chain of command.

As stated in AFI 36-6001 Section 2.12,

"Any Air Force military member or civilian employee, other than those personnel authorized to receive confidential communications or otherwise exempted by operation of law, regulation, or policy, who receives a report of a sexual assault incident about a subordinate in the individual's supervisory chain, shall, as soon as possible, report the matter to the AFOSI. Failure to report as specified is a violation of Article 92, UCMJ, for military members and Air Force civilian employees may be subject to administrative disciplinary action. Other military members or civilian employees who become aware of a sexual assault incident are strongly encouraged, but not obligated to report the incident to AFOSI."

The SAPR office also provides bystander intervention training and the opportunity for any eligible servicemember to become a victim advocate. They also provide informational training to at a commander or first sergeant's requests.

"A sexual assault victim is never to blame for what happened to them," said Pike. "No one deserves to be raped no matter what they have done and I believe that with all my heart."

The SAPR office is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 to 4:30, but the SAPR representatives are on call 24 hours a day seven days a week to provide assistance. To speak to a SAPR representative call

· Administration (919) 722-0155
· Hotline (919) 722-7272
· 24/7 Hotline (919) 920-7272
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