AFGSC Headquarters holds SAPR down day

by Carla Pampe
Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs

5/22/2014 - BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Members of the Air Force Global Strike Command Headquarters staff came together today to focus on Sexual Assault Prevention and Response.

Lt. Gen. Stephen Wilson, AFGSC commander, opened the down day with an all-call, where he discussed recent meetings with the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff of the Air Force focusing on sexual assault prevention, the biology of trauma, and what happens to victims during and after sexual assault.

"As I listened to that, and I thought about the victims, and what happens to them, it cemented clearly to me that this has zero place in our Air Force. I can't say it any simpler. Zero," he said, "and every Airman has to be part of the solution."

Part of that solution is learning how to identify potential perpetrators and creating an environment where harassing or inappropriate behavior is not acceptable, Vicki Shepherd, AFGSC Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, said.

Shepherd talked to the group about ways to identify potential perpetrators, and also some of the reasons victims do not come forward.

"One of the biggest reasons victims do not report is because they feel they will not be believed," Shepherd said.

She added that commanders and leaders at all levels can help encourage victims to come forward by creating a climate where victims feel they will be taken seriously and supported throughout the process.

Following the all-call, the Headquarters staff broke into small groups to discuss ways to identify potential perpetrators, and talk about creating a climate that discourages sexual assault and encourages victims to get help when they need it.

In the next few months, the Air Force will roll out a new program that was beta tested in AFGSC and will put the focus on sexual assault prevention. However, Shepherd said such programs aren't the only answer.

"Sexual assault prevention cannot be accomplished by the SAPR program alone," she said. "It will take every Airman.

"If we treat all victims with dignity and respect, and fairly investigate all cases, it will help support the message that we have zero tolerance," Shepherd added. "Each person who has the courage to come forward allows us the opportunity to stop an offender."