SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Twenty-four Marauders from The Rock were presented with certificates by Col. Jason Hanover, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing commander, after completion of a 40-hour training class to become victim advocates.
These 24 will join the ranks of 10 current victim advocates to provide advocacy, emotional support, information and crisis intervention to victims of sexual assault.
"It is an honor to present you with these certificates,” said Hanover. “Becoming a victim advocate is extremely important and I’m thankful that you’ve chosen this this path.”
Advocates are available 24-hours as a first line of support to victims.
“Being there for a victim means being able to provide confidentiality for restricted or unrestricted reports,” said the instructor and lead advocate, 1st Lt. Jonathan Tillman, 386th AEW Sexual Assault Response Coordinator. “The training prepares people for their role as a VA by giving them the skills to assist victims.”
The course focused on teaching what sexual assault is, how it affects individuals and practical skills. Although most trained VAs are deployed for a short while, they can still continue as a VA when they return to their home station.
“They are absolutely critical to the mission by ensuring victims of assault have the help they need to begin recovery,” said Chief Master Sgt. Jose Barraza, 386th AEW command chief. “Our VAs go through tough training so if the day comes when someone reaches out, they are there ready to serve.”
Barraza added that he was also thankful to all the VAs who stepped up when needed because their existence ensures no victim will ever be alone.
“The best part of training for me is the role play exercises,” said Tillman who deployed from Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. “Each role play session allows one person to be a ‘victim’ and the other a ‘VA’. The scenarios allow each Airman an opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned as they facilitated ‘victim’ interaction.
Even though they may have learned through role playing, the different scenarios presented VAs with a variety of cases that they could most likely be assigned. One student felt that it was a difficult process.
“At first, it seemed the process would be easy until I was in the seat and had to respond to a ‘victim,’” said 1st Lt. Holli Nelson, 386th AEW public affairs officer who became an advocate to help victims in need. “You want to ensure that you’re taking every necessary step to help the victim get through a difficult situation. The training was extremely beneficial in preparing us for that difficult task.”
Tillman felt the scenarios were an important part of the training and wanted Vas to grasp that no two cases are alike.
“Every case is unique and has its own challenges and needs because each victim is different. What I expect is for each victim to be treated with dignity, compassion and care,” said Tillman from Saline, Michigan. “As advocates we made a difference in somebody's life. It begins by listening and believing the victim and putting them in contact with medical and legal resources. These are all steps to help and promote the healing process.”
If you’d like to become a victim advocate e-mail 1stt Lt. Jonathan Tillman at 386aew.cvk@asab.afcent.af.mil for more information.