Face of Defense: Soldier Earns Kudos for Intervention Training

By J.D. Leipold

Army News Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 2014 – Chief Warrant Officer 5 Debra Blankenbaker not only earned the Army's Sexual Assault Prevention Innovation Award, but also received the Defense Department's award for the "bystander intervention" training program she developed.

Blankenbaker serves with the 7th Civil Support Command in Kaiserslautern, Germany, as her unit's sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention, or SHARP, program manager, and as a sexual assault response coordinator, or SARC, for almost 1,000 soldiers, their families and civilians.

She conceived the idea for bystander intervention training when the Army started giving soldiers scenario-based requirements as part of the SHARP program.

How to Intervene

"This is about how to effectively and safely intervene," Blankenbaker noted, adding that she had done research about the problem of sexual assault on college campuses.

"We adopted the program developed by Arizona State [University] called "Step Up," and in their training, they did the very thing I was just speaking of,” she said. "They not only taught the students how to become more aware of circumstances, but they also were teaching them how to safely intervene and not put themselves or the possible victim in harm's way.”

Sexual harassment and sexual assault are not the same, Blankenbaker said. But she added that studies have shown about 90 percent of sexual assault cases actually started with harassment that was never addressed, and which escalated to sexual assault.

That's where her 16 trained SHARP coordinators have been a huge help, Blankenbaker said.

"We've got a comfort zone and developed a trust with our soldiers in the program," she said. "We've had a couple of interventions on possible harassment, and because we handled them at that level, they did not escalate to assault."

Raising Awareness

To bring the message to people that it's not acceptable to turn one’s back when witnessing, Blankenbaker participates in community events to raise awareness and educate on prevention.

She's also been a consultant on the creation of several American Forces Network public service announcements that drive home the point, she said, with "statistics about unreported cases and cases that could have been brought to adjudication if someone had just gotten involved and helped."

Blankenbaker has written articles for the command newsletter, providing parents with additional topics to discuss with their children, such as the difference between appropriate and inappropriate touching, respect for boundaries and personal space, and what does and doesn't constitute consent.

"Our next initiative coming out is an application for smartphones for SHARP in Europe," she said. "Those apps will let someone who's been assaulted know with two clicks who to call instead of trying to remember a phone number with something as traumatic as sexual assault. … It will bring up a GPS location and tell them where the closest on-call SHARP counselor is."

Blankenbaker also serves as command chief warrant officer for the 7th Civil Support Command.

Members of JTF-Bravo volunteer at local orphanage

by Tech. Sgt. Heather Redman
Joint Task Force-Bravo Public Affairs Office

11/18/2014 - SOTO CANO, Honduras  -- Seventeen volunteers from Joint Task Force-Bravo spent some of their free time over the weekend at the Sisters of Charity Orphanage in Comayagua, Honduras.

"When groups come together to be a part of something bigger than themselves, it gives them a sense of doing something great, and in the end raises spiritual resiliency. I know that whenever I see people in a situation like this, it helps me to be reminded of how good we have it as healthy Americans, and I hope the participants feel the same way," said U.S. Air Force Capt. Samuel McClellan, Joint Task Force-Bravo command chaplain.

Over the three-hour visit, the volunteers spent time with several children and elderly orphans.  Some of the activities included a pizza dinner, prayer time, games and balloon animals.

"Helping others is something I've always enjoyed and I always take my balloons to where there might be little children," said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Carlos Hampton, non-commissioned officer in charge of Air Traffic Control Training and Standardization for the 612th Air Base Squadron. "After all the work you realize that you gain a whole lot more than what you give.  Being able to talk to the kids, asking them their names or coloring a page with them makes them feel special."

Volunteers throughout JTF-Bravo often spend time interacting with the children from various orphanages throughout the Comayagua Valley.

"The most rewarding part of the visit was seeing the joy on those kids faces as they ate and played with us. Their words of appreciation were heartwarming. It is a trip worth repeating," said U.S. Army Master Sgt. Humphrey Okele, NCO officer in charge of public health services for the JTF-Bravo Medical Element.

"The best part of the experience, without a doubt, is to see a smile on their faces.  You know you are starting to be special person for them beyond those balloons or the candy, when after playing with you for a little bit, they ask you for your name," added Hampton.

The Sisters of Charity Orphanage is a shared endeavor between various religious groups on Soto Cano Air Base and is primarily sponsored by Friendship Chapel.

U.S. military personnel assigned to JTF-Bravo have supported over 2,000 children at seven different orphanages and local villages from around the Comayagua Valley since 1997. In addition to spending time with interacting with children, members have also collected and donated much-needed supplies and food, as well as helped in minor construction work on the buildings in which the children live.

JTF-Bravo was established in August 1984 to exercise command and control of U.S. Forces and exercises within the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility. Even today, JTF-Bravo not only exercises this command and control, but has also helps bring support to those in need within the country of Honduras.

Titanic Explorer, Nobel Laureate to Headline Naval S&T Expo

From Office of Naval Research Public Affairs

ARLINGTON, Va. (NNS) -- The leader of the expedition that discovered the Titanic wreck and a Nobel Prize-winning physicist are among a growing lineup of speakers slated for the Naval Future Force Science and Technology (S&T) Expo Feb. 4-5 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

Sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the naval S&T community's premier event gives attendees the opportunity to interact with Department of Defense (DoD) leaders, who will discuss the status of key programs and new research opportunities. The Expo also will feature as many as 100 exhibits from industry, academia and government.

A revised Naval S&T Strategy detailing ONR's investments in scientific research will be unveiled at the event and set the tone and agenda for the Expo. The strategy will provide in-depth looks at research in robotics, autonomy, cyberspace, advanced training technology, power and energy, and other disciplines.

Incoming Chief of Naval Research Rear Adm. Mathias Winter will host the event.

"This event is crucial for us to communicate opportunities to potential research partners -- and for participants to learn how they can work with us to achieve the Department of the Navy's goals for delivering innovative technologies," said current Chief of Naval Research Rear Adm. Matthew Klunder, who will pass the torch to Winter Jan. 1. "From past experience, I can say this event is essential to getting the best and brightest in one place to share research challenges, new ideas and innovative concepts."

Already confirmed to speak at the event are: Dr. Robert Ballard, president and founder of Ocean Exploration Trust and world-famous undersea explorer; Dr. Bill Phillips, University of Maryland professor and winner of the 1997 Nobel Prize in physics for his work on laser-cooling methods; and Maj. Gen. Albert Husniaux, NATO's chief scientist.

Alan Shaffer, principal deputy in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, will lead a panel discussion on technology and innovation featuring leaders of S&T organizations from throughout DoD on the Expo's first day.

More speakers will be announced as they are confirmed. Check the Expo website and ONR's Twitter and Facebook profiles for periodic updates.

In addition to distinguished guest speakers, ONR leaders such as Director of Research Dr. Larry Schuette and Director of Technology Dr. Tom Killion will discuss challenges and opportunities.

There also will be breakout rooms to learn more about each of ONR's departments and conduct one-on-one appointments with subject matter experts.

The event is co-sponsored by the American Society of Naval Engineers.

About the Naval Future Force S&T Expo

The Naval Future Force S&T Expo is the Office of Naval Research's premier event. Formerly the S&T Partnership Conference, it provides access to naval leaders and opportunities for dialogue on requirements, challenges and new opportunities in S&T. The Expo is intended to raise awareness of a revised Naval S&T Strategy, program initiatives and challenges, as well as explore new partnerships and ideas to achieve Navy and Marine Corps goals. The event will include specialty forums to discuss themes such as: small business, co-sponsored with the Navy Office of Small Business Programs; innovative technologies; visionary research; science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM); doing business with ONR; and international S&T perspectives. Click here to learn more.

About the Office of Naval Research

The Department of the Navy's Office of Naval Research (ONR) provides the science and technology necessary to maintain the Navy and Marine Corps' technological advantage. Through its affiliates, ONR is a leader in science and technology with engagement in 50 states, 70 countries, 1,035 institutions of higher learning and 914 industry partners. ONR employs more than 1,000 people, comprising uniformed, civilian and contract personnel, with additional employees at the Naval Research Lab in Washington, D.C.

First 90 returnees enter controlled monitoring period after Ebola response

by Staff Sgt. Jason J. Brown

633rd Air Base Wing Public Affairs

11/18/2014 - JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. (AFNS)  -- U.S. service members arrived at Joint Base Langley-Eustis' Langley Transit Center Nov. 13 to begin a 21-day controlled monitoring period prior to returning to their home stations.

The group of 90 service members, which included Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines, returned from supporting Operation United Assistance missions combating the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease in West Africa.

Per direction from the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, all military personnel returning to the U.S. from Ebola missions in West Africa will undergo a 21-day controlled monitoring program, where they will be physically separated from family members and the general public.

Commanders and fellow service members greeted the returnees as they arrived as the transit center, congratulating them on a job well done before entering the transit center for in-processing.

The 633rd Air Base Wing recently finished preparation at Langley Transit Center, which will provide comfortable accommodations and routine medical check-ups, including twice-daily body temperature checks, for the returning members during the controlled monitoring period.

While the returning personnel have no known exposure to Ebola patients, the transit center staff has a robust disease monitoring and mitigation plan in place in the event a service member exhibits symptoms consistent with Ebola.

Capt. Jasamine Pettie, who as "camp mayor" will manage the administrative contingent servicing the transit center, said her top priority is the safety, security and well-being of those undergoing controlled monitoring.

"We're the eyes and ears on the ground," Pettie said. "Yes, the personnel are here to be monitored, but we're here to make sure they have what they need to live comfortably. We're making sure they're prepared, know what to do and who to call in case of an emergency."

No additional service members will enter monitoring at Langley Transit Center until the current personnel complete the 21-day period and return to their home stations.

While no announcement regarding additional returnees to Langley Transit Center has been made, Col. John J. Allen, Jr., the joint base installation commander, said the transit center will remain open to accommodate returning personnel "for as long as necessary."