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SARC trains 15 victim advocates for Wing

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Angelique N. Smythe
  • 451st AEW Public Affairs
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  There are fifteen new Air Force trained sexual assault victim advocates here thanks to one Air Force Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, who covers all SARC incidents in Afghanistan.

These individuals of the Sexual Assault Response and Prevention program are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help anyone who may need their assistance.

"Even though I'm not located here, the program is here," said Capt. Jose Milan, the new Air Force SARC for Afghanistan. "I will forward deploy here from Bagram to handle anything that needs my attention, but the victim advocates will assist initially. We have victim advocates available here at KAF who can provide information or help with anything a victim may need, such as chaplain's services, mental health, or restricted sexual assault cases."

Captain Milan provided 20 hours of training to the new victims advocates Jan. 25 and 26 on Kandahar Airfield.

A victim advocate supports the victim during investigations, sexual assault forensic examinations, etc. They can speak on behalf of the victim to commanders, first sergeants and supervisors. They work to make sure the victim does not experience feeling re-victimized as they go through a very difficult legal system.

"The SARC is a liaison for services," Captain Milan said. "We don't counsel, but we can make sure that people get to the services they want or need with confidentiality and without having to be re-victimized when they go to organizations to get help."

Victim advocates can act as a liaison and make appointments for the victim.

"We can help them get those appointments, so confidentiality does exist, especially with restricted reports," Captain Milan said. "We have that confidentiality so that whatever help they need, such as medical, legal or chaplain's services, we can get them that help without triggering an investigation."

If a victim elects to file charges, the victim advocate prepares the victim for trial by explaining what they may experience and the intense questioning that may take place.

"We don't just deal with new cases," he said. "We'll deal with anyone who has been affected by sexual assault and wants help. We do not do investigations. We simply ask what that victim would like to do and that's how we go about our business. We give them choices and options and then they choose from there."

A person can choose to file a restricted or unrestricted report.

A restricted report means that no investigation has been started and the only sources who will know about the incident are the victim advocate, the SARC, and the medical or chaplain services, if used. It is intended to give the victim time and control over the release of their information. It also empowers the victim to make an informed decision about participating in the criminal process.  A restricted report can be filed by active duty military members.

Unrestricted reports allow an investigation to be conducted. The unrestricted option is open to anyone, including military members, Department of Defense civilians and contractors. Investigations are conducted by security forces, Office of Special Investigations, the Provost Marshall Officer, or the Criminal Investigation Division. Victims can receive medical and chaplain's services, or anything else they may need.
Supervisors, first sergeants and commanders are also notified.

"(Notifying members of the chain of command) is done so that they can help take care of that victim and keep them safe," Captain Milan said. "They might do that by putting in place a no contact order, by giving the victim or perpetrator a different shift, by making it so that the victim gets what they need right away to start the recovery process to regain control."

Although there have been no known cases of sexual assaults of Air Force members on Kandahar or in Regional Command-South, Captain Milan said, "We know that sexual assaults are occurring because they have been reported." Reports in Regional Command-East in 2009 totaled 45 cases reported by the Army and 10 cases reported by the Air Force.

Anyone in need of a victim advocate may call the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing Command Post at DSN: 420-2012 to have them paged. The Kandahar Airfield's SARC 24-hour hotline is 841-7251.

Those needing to contact the SARC, who is stationed at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, may call DSN: 431-4060. If needed, they may also contact the Bagram's Command Post at DSN: 431-4400 to get a hold of the SARC.

"We are ready to respond to any case," Captain Milan said. "Just because we're in the (area of responsibility) doesn't mean we have to go without services."

Commanders, first sergeants or victim advocates needing information to share or slides to brief their people on the Sexual Assault Response and Prevention program may contact Captain Milan at jose.milan@bgab.afcent.af.mil.