Deployed SARC offers victims options, support Published Aug. 24, 2008 By Staff Sgt. Rachel Martinez 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan -- With General Order 1-B prohibiting the consumption of alcohol and restricting Air Force personnel from entering the living spaces of members of the opposite sex, the likelihood of sexual assaults is reduced here. Unfortunately, incidents still take place. When they do, the Air Force Sexual Assault Response Coordinator is there to help. Capt. Ezra McSharry, the first Air Force SARC at Bagram, arrived in July with the task of establishing a Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office here. The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program is a Department of Defense program that began in 2005. The program is a result of a task force assembled to review the way the DoD handles the treatment and care for victims of sexual assault in the military, with emphasis on care in the combat theaters. With his background, McSharry, a native of Yakima, Wash., was an easy choice as the first Air Force SARC here. He stood up and ran the SAPR program for one year while stationed at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo. He also has a degree in psychology, helping him deal with victims of sexual assault. "A lot of the damage for victims is psychological," he said. "Having some parameters on why they are reacting a certain way helps." Although he has a degree in psychology, McSharry stresses he and the victim advocates in the program are not counselors. Their role is to help the victim during the recovery process - and victims must take an active role in that recovery. "Recovery is a joint venture," said the captain who is deployed from Beale Air Force Base, Calif. "The victim is not going to go at this alone. We want to empower victims and have them take control of their recovery process." One way to empower victims is to refer to them as survivors. Those survivors are further empowered by having choices. Before the SAPR program was put in place, reports of sexual assault automatically lead to an investigation. Survivors/victims now have the option of restricted reporting in which they still receive counseling and medical care, but the chain of command is not notified and an investigation is not started. "They need to be placed in complete control of the process," explained McSharry. "My job is to outline the pros and cons of both reporting options, let them choose and then fully support them. My personal feelings have no bearing on it." Although the SARC supports cases of restricted reporting, the ultimate goal of the SAPR program is to make the survivor/victim comfortable enough with the process they would want to prosecute. With the new program here, McSharry said his goal is to simply educate people on the process. "My attitude is education is the key to prevention," he said. "The other part is, if someone is assaulted, are they able to get the information and help they need from the SARC?" When it comes to education and prevention, McSharry wants to let people know the difference between sexual harassment and sexual assault - assault starts with touching or attempting to touch someone in a sexual manner against their will. He's also stressing that committing sexual assault is a crime. "Preying on your fellow wingman is unacceptable," he said. For potential victims, they should know they're not alone. Not only is he there for support, but so are the victim advocates. "VAs are a critical link," McSharry explained. "The advocates are out there making contact on a daily, weekly basis. Their opinions and actions matter." Victim Advocates participate in monthly case reviews and providing insight to help facilitate the victim's recovery. When there are no cases to review, they're still meeting with the SARC and training. One of the challenges McSharry faces here is he's the only Air Force SARC in all Afghanistan. With Airmen assigned throughout the country, he relies on his VAs to assist where he can't be. He currently has two trained VAs outside of Bagram - one at Kandahar and one at Forward Operating Base Lindsey in Eastern Afghanistan. With people routinely rotating in and out, he will always need more VAs. Anyone interested seeking assistance or who wishes to get involved as a VA can reach the SARC by phone at DSN (318) 431-4060 or 079-751-9568, or by e-mail at AFSARC@afghan.swa.army.mil.