SAAM self-defense

Tech Sgt. Erick Bergery Jr., 451st Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron senior combative instructor, demonstrates a possible response to a choke hold, April 9, from basic combative instructor Tech Sgt. Maurice Chaney during a self defense training event held at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Lacey J. Hunt, 102nd MPAD)

Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Afghanistan

Published April 27, 2013
By Sgt. Lacey Hunt
102nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Sexual Assault Awareness Month is observed every April and this year at Kandahar Airfield, in celebration of this month, Commander of Kandahar Airfield and the Air Force collaborated on events to promote awareness to include a free self-defense class that offered up to 12 sessions.

"Having knowledge of the type of assaults that have occurred, I wanted to offer self-defense classes and provide individuals with the opportunity to learn techniques that could assist them in disengaging and gaining safe separation from an aggressor," said Capt. Brandi Rountree,451st Air Expeditionary Wing Sexual Assault Response Coordinator.

The classes were conducted at Freedom Gym and each class built upon the previous session.

"Although these moves are a lot like combatives, these specific moves are focusing on self-defense with the main objective being to gain safe separation," said Tech. Sgt. Eric Bergery, the senior instructor for the course.

April allows the opportunity to build on sexual assault awareness and the efforts of the Department of Defense to combat a serious problem that degrades readiness and morale. The SAAM program was designed to raise awareness and promote the prevention of sexual violence using special events to highlight prevention.

"April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and this provides the opportunity for us to show our commitment to eliminating sexual assault, show our support to sexual assault victims, and educate the base populace on prevention and response efforts," said Rountree. "We must work hard to prevent the crime, but when it does occur, we need to be there for the victims."

"Someone being taken advantage of against their will is something I do not take lightly," said Bergery. "I would like to give these females the ability and confidence that they can defend themselves and break contact."

The military services received a total of 3,192 reports of sexual assault during fiscal year 2011. This represents a one percent increase since fiscal year 2010, when there were 3,158 reports of sexual assault. The DOD Annual report for fiscal year 2012 has not been released.