SAAM aims at prevention using education, awareness

  • Published
  • By Tyler Hemstreet
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
In observation of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator's office will host a variety of educational and interactive events throughout April.

The wide variety of events will hopefully provide something for everyone, said Heather Van Mill, SARC for the 62nd Airlift Wing.

"We have a walk for active people, a T-shirts display for creative people and a performance for those who like to relax," she said. "There is an activity for just about everyone on base. It's very different from what we had last year."

The "Walk to End Sexual Violence" is at 3 p.m. Thursday. The SARC office will be handing out free water bottles to those who participate. The walk will start at the chapel support center and end at Second Street.

The chapel support center will also host a Victim Advocate Recognition luncheon from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 12.

The campaign will close April 27 with three showings of the live performance "Sex Signals" as part of Wingman Day. The 70-minute show will create the kind of dialogue necessary to dissolve enduring sexual assault myths and encourage thoughtful, accountable intimate behavior, Ms. Van Mill said.

This year marks the third consecutive year the Armed Forces has observed SAAM.

The Clothesline Project, where people decorated shirts to symbolically break the silence of sexual assault experiences, will also be on display throughout the month in Bldg. 100's customer service mall. There will also be SAAM displays at the library, medical clinic and the Health and Wellness Center.

The Department of Defense has worked diligently over the past two years to develop and implement a comprehensive policy that strengthens military readiness by preventing sexual assault, enhancing victim support and improving system accountability, said Michael Dominguez, principal deputy of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, in a recent memo.

"This observance provides us an opportunity to recommit our efforts to eliminate sexual assault in the Armed Forces," Mr. Dominguez said. "The theme for SAAM, 'Stand Up Against Sexual Assault. Make a Difference,' emphasizes the ability of each and every servicemember to prevent sexual assaults from occurring."

SAAM events
-- Thursday -- "Walk to End Sexual Violence," 3 p.m.
-- April 12 -- Victim Advocate Recognition luncheon, 11 a.m.
-- April 27 -- "Sex Signals," 10 a.m. 1 p.m. and 3 p.m