Air Force Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program Blog
Most of you should have already been through the 90-minute block of annual SAPR training the Air Force developed to educate the force with the theme “Eliminate Sexual Assault: Know your part. Do your part.” Some of you may also have participated in the 30-minute small group discussions known as “flip the scripts.” We want your honest feedback on these products and hopefully address any concerns you might have about the formats.
Posted in Blog.
– June 3, 2015
In the military, we recognized April as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. However we can’t solve the insidious crime of sexual assault in just one month or with an isolated effort. We must have a sustained commitment from every Airman – enlisted, officer, civilian and contractor – 365 days of the year to ensure our Air Force family is free of sexual assault. Eliminating sexual assault in the Air Force is a daunting task but that won’t stop us from accepting the challenge. Every Airman should seek ways to positively influence the outcome of this challenge. When each of us understands and acts on our Air Force Core Values, this criminal behavior will not exist in our Air Force family. How do you plan to prevent this crime?
Posted in Blog.
– May 4, 2015
April 2015 marks the 14th observance of Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month. It is recognized nationally and internationally by military and civilian communities. In the late 1980s, the National Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NCASA) led an initiative to select a designated time period to promote awareness. In 2001, the teal ribbon was used as a national symbol, and in 2015, the DoD expanded the title of the month to include prevention – Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM). The 2015 DoD SAAPM theme is “Eliminate Sexual Assault, Know Your Part, Do Your Part”
Posted in Blog.
– April 20, 2015
The president and founder of the Date Safe Project spoke frankly about sex at the Sexual Assault Prevention Summit Jan. 14, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.
Mike Domitrz conversed with the 150 Airmen in attendance about how to talk authentically and effectively about sex. Domitrz is one of many speakers who shared their research and perspectives with participants over the course of the five-day summit designed to stimulate discussion about sexual assault between Airmen of all different ranks, backgrounds, education and career fields.
“It is a global issue,” Domitrz said. “We’ve got to own our role in this situation. We’ve got to start with ourselves.”
Asserting the culture is steeped in myths related to sex, Domitrz addressed why Airmen often put alcohol and sex together. Thinking it will relax them, increase stamina or make the situation more comfortable, Airmen get caught attempting to make consequential decisions while inhibited.
“It’s not truly relaxing you,” Domitrz said. “It’s dropping your standards.”
The Air Force culture also reflects language that undermines prevention efforts. Domitrz called for a paradigm shift in the cultural conversation around sex discouraging sending negative energy toward the problem. Telling Airmen to stop raping is like a football coach telling a player to stop fumbling, Domitrz said.
For the paradigm shift to take place, Airmen must become comfortable with the subject, and be willing to speak authentically from their own experience. The way Airmen talk about sex matters. People like to talk about sex when it is positive, Domitrz said.
“What if our number one priority is mutually amazing intimacy?” Domitrz asked. “How would that shift the conversation and education?”
While the problem shows up in the culture, the change will occur at the individual level. Domitrz challenged the audience to take every opportunity to provide others a tool that could change their life. Every person you try to impact is their own human being, and it is important to start by at least laying a foundation, Domitrz said.
“It is not about the one who rapes, Domitrz said. It’s about each of us. We want to shift the whole paradigm, and when we really start to talk about this issue, it gets personal.”
The participants reacted positively to Domitrz’s message.
“I thought that was one of the top sessions that we’ve had,” said Jeremy Walter, a unit education and training manager for the 66th Medical Squadron. “It is a true problem, and we have to be truthful to one another. My workplace is going to benefit greatly from what I got.”
Posted in Blog.
– January 16, 2015
When we talk about preventing the crime of sexual assault we are talking about before the crime happens. We’ve all participated in Sexual Assault education through mass auditorium in-person programs, smaller focus group discussions, and one-on-one interactions with your local Sexual Assault Response Coordinators. Keeping that type of education in mind, what do you think prevention is? What do you think can make preventing sexual assault more effective?
Posted in Blog.
– October 20, 2014
Editor’s note: This is part three of an eight-part series about sexual assault awareness.
After I told my supervisor of the sexual assault, a strange tension began between us. A few weeks later, my son became ill. All of a sudden, I had three major stresses … lack of good sleep and nightmares, an unfamiliar stressed relationship with my supervisor, and a sick child whom I could not instantly make better.
I was overwhelmed. I took emergency leave to support my son and family. Additionally, I sought ways to relieve my stress. I supported my son, but I was limited and reactionary to his needs, the doctor’s news and the treatment plan.
Additionally, my emergency leave added to the tensions in my relationship with my supervisor so out of desperation, I addressed the sexual assault I had avoided for almost 20 years. I needed, and my family needed me to be healthy and free of nightmares now more than ever. Addressing the sexual assault was the best decision I ever made for my health, my family and my career, but I’m sad it took desperation for me to examine the horrific sexual assault event instead of avoiding it.
What you can do: 1.) Don’t label sexual assault survivors as “victims”– we are survivors. 2.) If you are a sexual assault survivor, please don’t wait until your life is so stressed the only thing you can control is learning new coping methods to recover from your sexual assault. 3.) Your response to any sexual assault survivor should be: “I’m sorry,” “It’s not your fault,” and “What can I do to help?” [Mr. Jeff Bucholt, Director of We End Violence, 2013]. I wish my supervisor had been given this valuable advice before I told him of my sexual assault.
About the Author: This is an event in my life I want to share with you so you can gain insight from my experience as part of the “Story Teller’s Campaign.” As part of the “Every Airman has a Story Campaign, I am a confident young lady–I like to ensure I leave every program I touch better than I found it. I am and have been many things: a mother, sister, wife, daughter, snowboarder, adventure racer, motorcycle rider, leader, program manager, engineer, physicist, Air Liaison Officer, United Nations Military Observer and U.S. delegate to NATO. My philosophy is “bloom where planted and never ignore something you can fix or influence fixing.” I teach and empower my team members to be better than me. Finally, I can make a difference and so can you.
Posted in Blog.
– September 11, 2014
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