April 12, 2013 - San Antonio News

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commentary PAGE 2 TALESPINNER April 12, 2013 Sexual assault awareness begins at top, official says Joint Base San Antonio Lackland Editorial Staff BR I G. GEN. THERESA C. CARTER, JBSA/502N D AIR BA SE WI N G, CO M M A N D E R TO D D G. WH I T E, JBSA/502N D AIR BA SE WI N G PU B L I C AF FA I R S DI R E C TO R OS CA R BA L L A DA R E S, JBSA-LAC K L A N D PU B L I C AF FA I R S CH I E F By Terri Moon Cronk American Forces Press Service Bergquist Gate Closure Bergquist Gate is closed for an extended period of time due to construction. Signal lights will be off and barriers will be in place to prevent traffic from entering through the gate. Camp Bramble access will be maintained. All traffic is directed to Gateway East Gate. To combat and put an end to sexual assault in the military, the Defense Department has designed programs to boost victim medical care, increase assault reporting and hold offenders accountable for their crimes, the director of the Pentagon’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office said. Responding to questions as a member of a panel discussing the 2012 movie “The Invisible War” as part of the End Violence Against Women international conference, Army Maj. Gen. Gary S. Patton discussed DOD’s no-tolerance policy on sexual assault for an audience that included first responders, prosecutors and criminal investigation department agents. Charged with positioning the military to “win the war on sexual assault,” Patton said he believes that sexual assault cannot be conquered until it is a more visible issue. “The Invisible War” helped with that awareness, he added. Sexual assaults are terrible crimes that have a “lasting, scary, traumatic effect” on victims, the general said. The Defense Department works worldwide to prevent and respond to sexual assault, using “five lines of effort,” Patton said: prevention, accountability, investigation, victim advocacy and assessment. Prevention begins with training commanders in best practices and working that effort down to the lowest level, Patton said. Each service branch, he said, has such a program in place. The interactive training includes scenario-based discussions led by professionals, and also features victim testimony and other issues that “underscore the emphasis and the importance this training has to prevent sexual assault,” the general said. Accountability’s aim is to hold sexual offenders appropriately accountable in the military justice system, and to encourage victims to report the crime, Patton said, Investigation into sexual assault is performed separately from the chain of command via a policy to obtain optimum results, he said. “We’re creating a special victims capability for each of the services,” Patton explained, “and will deliver a distinct group of specially trained professionals such as victim witness liaisons, paralegals, and so forth, all united under our common policy framework of standardized training, to come together and work these important aspects.” Victim advocacy is a way to standardize and offer reporting options to victims, to motivate reporting and enable greater accountability for offenders, Patton said, noting that military sexual assault victims who want to change their units have had a 99 percent success rate. Assessment includes surveys and reviews for commanders to see how their program is doing in a meaningful and accurate way, from victim intervention to medical care, Patton said. The general said the Defense Department’s efforts to curb sexual assaults will enable culture change. “I believe we can turn this around,” he said. “The (department) is firmly committed to changing the culture.” Panelist Russell Strand, chief of family advocacy law enforcement training for the Army Military Police School at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., also weighed in on the importance of culture change. “I’ve never seen a culture change (happen) so fast, so well and so immediately in the military,” said Strand, a former service member. He added that sexual assault is taken seriously in the military. “We will do whatever it takes to minimize, and eventually eradicate, this scourge upon our military,” Strand said. “We have the best military in the world, (and) we have a lot of things we do well and some we don’t do so well,” he added. “There are hundreds of thousands of people in the military who take this issue as seriously as we do. When we hear or see a story, it breaks our heart, collectively and individually.” Patton said DOD’s efforts to combat sexual assault are far-reaching. “We intend to make the U.S. military a national leader in sexual assault prevention and response,” he added. ALEX DE L GA D O IN T E R N A L CO M M U N I C AT I O N S CH I E F MA N AG I N G ED I TO R 671-4111 MI K E JO S E P H, SE N I O R WR I T E R 671-4357 JO S E T. GA R Z A, III, SP O RT S/STA F F WR I T E R, 671-0478 DO RO T H Y LO N A S, DE S I G N/LAYO U T 671-5049 Office 1701 Kenly Ave. Suite 102 Lackland AFB, Texas 78236-5103 671-4111; (fax) 671-2022 Email: tale.spinner@us.af.mil Commander’s Action Line: actionline@lackland.af.mil. Straight Talk: 671-6397 (NEWS) For advertising information: Prime Time Military Newspapers 2203 S. Hackberry, San Antonio, Tx 78210 210-534-8848 This newspaper is published by Prime Time Military Newspapers, a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with JBSA-Lackland, Texas. This commercial enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. military services. Contents of the Talespinner are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government, the Department of Defense, or the Department of the Air Force. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force or Prime Time Military Newspapers, of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Public Affairs Office of the 502nd Air Base Wing. All photos, unless otherwise indicated, are U.S. Air Force photos. Deadline for submissions is noon Thursday the week prior to publication.
news April 12, 2013 TALESPINNER PAGE 3 Ne w s in Brief Today motorcycle safety rally The 502nd Air Base Wing Safety Office motorcycle safety rally is today, 9-11:30 a.m., at the Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Medina Annex motorcycle training range. The rally features a motorcycle safety inspection station and guest speakers. Riders will also have an opportunity to test their riding skills. For more information, contact the 502nd ABW Safety Office at 671-5028. Monday balfour beatty scholarships The Balfour Beatty Communities Foundation is accepting applications for their scholarship program. Applications are available at http:// www.bbcommunitiesfoundation.org or http://www.LacklandAFBFamilyHousing. com. The deadline to apply is Monday. Contact Claudia Moreno at 674-9366 or email cmoreno@bbcgrp.com. April 24 fiesta in blue concert The United States Air Force Band of the West’s annual Fiesta in Blue concert is April 24, 7 p.m., in the Bob Hope Theater at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. The performance is free; however tickets and base access are required. Tickets are available at the JBSA-Lackland and JBSA-Randolph Information, Travel and Ticket offices, or the JBSA-Fort Sam Houston ticket office. For more information about Fiesta in Blue or other USAF Band of the West performances, visit http://www.bandofthewest.af.mil or http://www.facebook. com/bandofthewest. April 27 prescription drug ‘take back’ d ay The Drug Enforcement Agency “Take Back” Day on Joint Base San Antonio- Lackland is April 27. Old, outdated or unwanted prescription medications can be turned in for disposal at the Satellite Pharmacy parking lot, between the main base exchange and the commissary, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. For more information, call Charles Nail, 559th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, at 671-9470/83 or Lisa Frantz, 802nd Security Forces Squadron, at 671-2262. Leaders sign Sexual Assault Awareness Month proclamation By Staff Sgt. Corey Baltos Army North Public Affairs Photo by Mike O'Rear Brig. Gen. Theresa Carter, commander, Joint Base San Antonio and 502nd Air Base Wing, signs the Commanders' Proclamation on Sexual Assault Awareness April 3 during a Sexual Assault Awareness Month observance at Warrior and Family Support Center. “I am your sister. I am your mother. I am your friend and I am your shipmate. I am a survivor of sexual assault.” With these words Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Alissa Ropicky told the story of the day in 2005 when she was raped by a fellow Sailor. Ropicky told her story April 3 to military personnel at Warrior and Family Support Center on Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, where they gathered to witness the signing of the Commanders' Proclamation on Sexual Assault Awareness Month, which is in April. SAAM is an annual campaign to educate members of the military community on how to prevent sexual violence as well as letting service members, civilians and families know the difference between sexual assault and consensual sexual contact. This year’s SAAM theme is “We own it … we’ll solve it … together.” “While Sexual Assault Awareness Month is a great start to awareness, every month is Sexual Assault Awareness Month,” said Sgt. 1st Class Adam Mayo, equal opportunity advisor, U.S. Army North (Fifth Army). “As parents, friends, leaders, and role models, we have an obligation to take care of each other,” Mayo said. “Preventing sexual harassment and assault is everyone’s business.” Commanders from the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps then signed the Commanders' Proclamation on Sexual Assault Awareness. The proclamation stressed the importance of supporting victims as they heal, holding offenders accountable, and implementing successful sexual assault prevention strategies by instilling a military culture that stands against any and all acts of sexual violence, emphasizing a community built on respect, collaboration and unity. “Those of us who wear the nation’s uniform need to treat each other with respect so we can focus on our mission, instead of fearing for our safety,” said Brig. Gen. Theresa Carter, commander, Joint Base San Antonio and 502nd Air Base Wing. According to the Department of Defense’s Fiscal Year 2011 annual report on sexual assault in the military, more than half of military sexual assaults are from fellow service members. “We must support victims of sexual assault,” said Maj. Gen. Adolph Mc- Queen Jr., deputy commanding general for support, Army North. “Those who commit sexual assault wound our teammates. Predators must be held accountable and prevention is everyone’s duty.” Navy Capt. Gail Hathaway, commander, Navy Medicine, Education and Training Command, who gave the keynote speech, said sexual assault violates the military’s core values. “As commanders, as leaders, as fellow Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coastguardsmen, it is essential that we all live the core values of our profession of arms and treat each other with dignity and respect,” she said. “Our victims and our fellow service members are depending on us. One of the key reasons we observe Sexual Assault Awareness Month is to show our support for victims of sexual assault,” Hathaway said. In Ropicky’s case, the support received from her command was vital to her after the assault because it was a key factor to her surviving the attack and staying in the Navy. “The way your chain of command and first-responders respond to a victim of sexual assault goes a long way in determining their success in overcoming their attack,” Ropicky said. “My chain of command supported me throughout those horrible months as I went from legal appointments to doctor’s appointments to therapy, and finally to the trial where I saw my rapist found guilty of raping me and another Sailor,” she added. “This could have broken me, but with support, it has made me a stronger sister, mother, friend and Sailor.” To learn more about the resources available for victims of sexual assault, call; 877-995-5247 or visit http://www. SafeHelpline.org.
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April 12, 2013 - San Antonio News

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