Air Guard Unit Uses Teal Ribbons in Sexual Assault Prevention Campaign

By Air Force Capt. Jennifer K. Proctor, 138th Fighter Wing

TULSA AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Okla., April 9, 2018 — Teal ribbons adorned the lawn surrounding the Brig. Gen. Joseph W. Turner Complex parking area here April 7, each signifying one of the 435 sexual assaults reported within Air National Guard units throughout the United States in 2016.

“By seeing 435 ribbons, I hope to help airmen grasp the damage that sexual assault has on the Air National Guard and our mission,” said Air Force 2nd Lt Jennifer Carson, the 138th Fighter Wing’s sexual assault response coordinator.

Carson and several other volunteers apparently were successful in their sexual assault awareness and prevention campaign across the wing. Air Force Senior Airman Shannan Hanson, a client systems technician in the 138th Communications Flight, described the visualization as “overwhelming.”

“When you stop and think that each of those ribbons represent an airman, it’s horrific,” Hanson said. “Each of them are a member of our Guard family.”

Other airmen surveyed had similar feelings to Hanson’s, some noting the trust in the program the airmen had shown by being confident enough in the system to report a sexual assault without fear of retaliation.

Leaders’ Support

The wing’s leadership supports efforts to prevent and eliminate sexual assault.

 “Sexual assault has no place within the Air National Guard,” Air Force Col. Raymond H. Siegfried III, the 138th Fighter Wing commander, said. “We are a family, and we don’t treat our family with anything but respect and dignity. Sexual assault is not only a crime against the victim -- it degrades our readiness, relationships and mission accomplishment. We are better than that.”

Carson said she hoped the display would lead to all of the wing’s airmen taking a moment to consider how they can be involved in eliminating sexual assault within the military.

Navy’s Oldest Commissioned Submarine Visits Pearl Harbor for Final Time

By Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Daniel Hinton, Submarine Forces Pacific

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii, April 9, 2018 — Friends and families of the crew gathered on the pier here April 6 to welcome back the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Bremerton as it returned from its final deployment.

Bremerton successfully completed a six-month deployment while conducting operations in support of national security.

Excellent Crew

“The entire crew performed with excellence,” said Navy Master Chief Petty Officer Wade Jacobson, Bremerton’s boat chief. “In six months we took the nation’s longest-serving submarine more than 42,000 nautical miles, executing multiple missions in some of the toughest and busiest environments in the world, and conducted five foreign port visits.”

During the deployment, 25 sailors earned their submarine warfare qualification, and 19 achieved advanced supervisory qualifications.

“I want the American public to know that they should be incredibly proud of every single person on this boat,” Jacobson said. “Each one has sacrificed something to do the job, and it can sometimes be stressful, but through grit and determination, each one has come through successfully.

The completion of its Western Pacific deployment marks the end the ship's active service in the Pacific. It will soon head to Bremerton, Washington, for deactivation.

“The Bremerton is one of the most impressive engineering marvels in human history,” Jacobson said. “It is truly incredible for a warship to be operational at such deep and strenuous depths for nearly 40 years.”

Bremerton made port calls to Singapore and the Philippines, and some of the crew used the visits to volunteer and interact with host countries.

“The best part of deployment for me was getting the chance to play soccer with children we visited in the Philippines,” said Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Daniel Kim. “It was a great opportunity to see and interact with the local community.”

Flexibility

Jacobson extolled the crew for its flexibility during the challenging deployment. “Every curveball thrown our way was hit out of the park,” he said.

USS Bremerton is the 10th ship of the Los Angeles class and the oldest commissioned submarine in the Navy. Its keel was laid in Groton, Connecticut, in May 1976.