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Commander hosts base-wide SAPR stand down

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jared Trimarchi
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar --  More than 1,000 Airmen attended a base commander's call during a Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Stand Down Day at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, April 29, 2014.

The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing commander, Brig. Gen. Roger H. Watkins, shared a brief, which was created by the Air Force chief of staff and the Headquarters Air Force SAPR Office, with the Airmen who support Operation Enduring Freedom and the U.S. Air Forces Central Command area of responsibility.

The commander's call was part of an Air Force-wide initiative to combat sexual assault and sexual harassment throughout the force.

"The number one thing we have to do is to acknowledge there is a problem," said Watkins, while discussing sexual assault and sexual harassment to the Airmen of the 379th AEW. "Number two we have to own it because it decreases our capability to get the mission done.

"We need every single Airman, our wingmen, to feel like they are important. To feel like their contribution matters, and right now some of our teammates don't feel that way."

The Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh III calls sexual assault and sexual harassment in the service a cancer which must be cut out. Watkins shared a few words from the chief of staff.

"Our chief of staff said sexual assault undermines the mission effectiveness of our great force and nothing saddens him more than to know this cancer exists in our ranks," Watkins said.

During the speech Watkins said he wished this problem didn't exist at Al Udeid Air Base.
"I wish I could tell you we didn't have this cancer here," he said. "But I can't tell you that. What I can tell you is we are asking each and every one of you to help ensure we have a culture of dignity and respect. Not just here but also when you return back to your home duty stations."

Watkins described sexual assault to being as much of a loss as friendly fire.

"Folks, these cases of sexual assault and sexual harassment are fratricide," Watkins said. "It is Airmen on Airmen, which causes casualties and decreases our combat capability. Every one of you plays an important part on getting the mission done, and you all do it extraordinarily well ... but we have to stop being passive bystanders. When we see or hear those things that are inappropriate we step in and actively intervene. Let's not let the very small percentage of people who would perpetrate these kinds of crimes continue to operate, not in our duty sections and not in our Air Force."

After the brief Airmen will attend small group discussions to talk about sexual assault and sexual harassment prevention with their supervisors and peers.