An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

380AEW Article

Airmen and Soldiers Train to Equip Survivors

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Stephen Linch
  • 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Alcohol is the number one rape drug.

It is involved in 80 percent of rapes that occur among Airmen's home stations and is deliberately used by the majority of rapists to lose their inhibitions and leave their victim more vulnerable.

Eleven Airmen and Soldiers learned these statistics and various studies during a 40-hour victim advocate course conducted by the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office Nov. 29 to Dec. 4, 2009.

The course taught victim advocates how to assist victims and gave them information about the medical, psychological, legal and investigative elements involved with sexual assaults.

The sexual assault response coordinator appoints victim advocates at the victim's discretion, to provide emotional support and information.

According to Capt. Heather Fennel, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing SARC, victim advocates portray a very important message to those that experience such assault, "I am here for you and it's not your fault."

This is an important message because, "The victims will almost always blame themselves," she said.

Circumstances such as how much they had to drink, where they were or how they dressed, do not matter, Captain Fennel said. "What ever choices that person made, still should never equal sexual assault."

The Air Force started the SAPR program in 2005 to educate military members and to provide support for victims around-the-clock, after an extensive study revealed a disconcerting prevalence of sexual assault in the military.

Most sexual assault offenders in the military are an acquaintance of the victim, such as "A co-worker, a friend, an ex-boyfriend," said Captain Fennel.

More bothersome than that, most cases in the Air Force involve an Airman victim and an Airman perpetrator, she said.

"Blue on Blue violence that will continue until there is a culture mind shift," she added

Although statistics show 18 to 26 year-olds have the highest risk in the Air Force, anyone can be sexually assaulted, said the New York native.

"Anybody can be a victim," said Captain Fennel. "Sexual Assault sees no age, no gender, doesn't see race - it affects everybody."

Airmen who are sexually assaulted should contact the SARC as soon as possible.

"The quicker you can get help, the quicker you can recover," she closed.

About Victims
· One in four women and one in 33 men will be a victim of sexual assault in their lifetime.
· Girls ages 16-19 are four times more likely than the general population to be victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault.
· Within the Air Force 18 to 26 year-olds are at the highest risk to be victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault.

Sexual Assault Numbers
· In 2007, there were 248,300 victims of sexual assault.
· Every two minutes, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted.

Reporting to Police
· 60 percent of sexual assaults are not reported to the police.
· Reporting has increased in the U.S. by one-third since 1993.

About Rapists
· Approximately 73 percent of rape victims know their assailants.
· Within the military more than 80 percent of rape victims know their assailants.