OCR Text |
Show 8 ©Hilltop Tunes September 9, 2004 Study looks at sexual assault prevention, by Tech. Sgt. David A. Jablonski Air Force Print News WASHINGTON — The Air Force has released a study that assessed the service's sexual assault prevention and response capabilities. The 96-page document titled. Report Concerning the Assessment of USAF Sexual Assault Prevention and Response, was released Aug. 30. In February 2004, the secretary of the Air Force and the Air Force chief of staff requested an assessment of sexual assault prevention and response capabilities, including areas needing improvement. The Air Force performed a qualitative assessment that generated findings to inform senior leaders of potential program improvements. Michael L. Dominguez, assistant secretary of the Air Force for manpower and reserve affairs, and Lt. Gen. Roger A. Brady, deputy chief of staff for personnel, supervised the assessment. and leadership; education and training; reporting; response; and air and space expeditionary forces and deployment. Each The assessment's findings and recommendations were briefed to Air Force senior leaders May 18 at CORONA Top. topic area except sexual assault realities contains a series of recommendations. They approved a campaign plan to address the findings and to further develop the recommended solutions. Air Force "We're already using what we have found," General three-star leaders met at a summit Aug. 16 to discuss proBrady said. posed solutions. "We did not wait until we got ready to publish the report," 'The most important thing we learned is that sexual assault he said. "As soon as we started having consistent findings is a very complex subject," General Brady said. "And it's a from across our Air Force, we put out guidance to our comsubject that we probably didn't understand very well. So this manders, for example, to establish victim-support liaisons. report helps us educate our commanders, our supervisors, We are using this report to educate ourselves about the nature our people and ourselves so that we know what we're deal- of this crime, about the environment we currently have in ing with, and we can attack the problem aggressively. the Air Force and to build the programs we need to create the environment where we build greater trust. I think it will "We want to do something about it because it obviously affects the quality of life for our people; it affects our readi- help us move toward eradicating a behavior that is totally ness; it affects our ability to conduct our mission," he said. unacceptable. Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley, in "We already have Air Education and Training Command a February tasking memorandum to all major command com- building most of our education programs for this," the genmanders, established five goals for the assessment: eral said. "We're developing programs that begin with Airmen coming to Lackland, officers coming in to various • Strive to eliminate sexual assault and any environment accession forces, noncommissioned officer academies, comthat fosters it. mander's schools, etc. We want to have consistent messages, • Ensure an environment where victims have the confiappropriate to the audience, across the ranks. And we are dence to report sexual assault. educating our leaders to deal with these problems wherever • Conduct appropriate investigation and prosecution. • Address victims' well-being and health as effectively as , they're faced." possible. The cornerstone of this effort was a series of self-assess• Ensure commanders and senior leaders oversee program ments conducted by major commands focusing on each effectiveness. one's sexual assault prevention and response capabilities. A headquarters integrated planning team undertook "We want to send a very clear message," General Brady a parallel effort to review established policies, conduct corsaid. "It is that sexual assault, or any behavior anywhere porate and university benchmarking, and engage in sexual approaching this, is absolutely inconsistent with our core assault subject-matter experts external to the Air Force. values and everything that we believe. It is unacceptable. Representatives from the MAJCOMs and the headquarters "When we find people who are involved in this kind of activity, these are not people we need in-our Air Force," he said. teams worked together to capture findings and develop rec"We also need to make sure that anyone who is a victim of ommendations. such a crime knows that we're going to handle it disThis assessment is the next step of a journey that began in creetly, we're going to be aggressive in not only pursuing January 2003, when allegations of sexual assault at the justice for the individual and the system, but we're also going U.S. Air Force Academy came to light. In March 2003, after to show all of the compassion and show all the support we multiple investigations into these allegations, the secretary can (to individuals) as they proceed through what for them and chief of staff implemented Agenda for Change. The is a very traumatic event." Agenda for Change was a map for complete cultural change Twenty significant findings are listed in the report, as well within the academy. as 14 recommendations. Findings and recommendations Over the course of 2003, two studies focusing on the sexfocused on six topic areas: sexual assault realities; policy ual assault crisis at the academy were conducted. The Report response of the Working Group Concerning Deterrence of and ResponseJ to Incidents of Sexual Assault at the U.S. Air Force Academy (Working Group Report) was delivered in June 2003. In a second study, former Rep. Tillie Fowler led a panel chartered by the U.S. Congress to review the actions of the academy and Air Force in response to allegations of sexual misconduct. The Report of the Panel to Review Sexual Misconduct Allegations at the U.S. Air Force Academy (Fowler Report) was released in September 2003. The Air Force learned a great deal about sexual assault from its experiences with the academy. Consequently, during a four-star summit in the fall of 2003, Air Force senior leaders decided to look beyond the academy to determine whether the academy experience was an anomaly or existed • Air Force-wide. The Pacific Air Forces commander volunteered to do an assessment within the command. This assessment was limited to allegations of rape within the command and findings were presented to the next four-star summit in February. Based on the PACAF findings, Air Force leaders agreed on the necessity of an Air Force-wide assessment. This assessment represents the culmination of an 18-month process. Although the learning process continues, the Air Force is comfortable drawing three overarching observations; • The sexual assault problem is much more complex than it seemed initially. • Sexual assault is a societal problem. Consequently, it is also an Air Force problem. There are no quick solutions to address sexual assault. It will require positive, ongoing efforts • to foster and instill institutional change. • Commanders and leaders at all levels are key to the process of institutional change. Recognizing and understanding the sexual assault problem is challenging. Air Force commanders have been working this issue on a case-by-case basis rather than attacking it as a cultural and societal issue. The Air Force must do a better job of defining and understanding the crime of sexual assault and the behavior that spawns it. Ultimately, the Air Force must work through its commanders to create an institutional environment that; refuses to accept or facilitate such behavior. "Finally, let me say that this is an issue that has to do with who we are as Airmen," General Brady said. "It has to do with our core values. And just as we talk about integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do, there is an important, vital component in each of those that has to do with respect," he said. "When we have sexual assault, we have a clear lack of respect. As Airmen we must respect ourselves, we must respect the institution and its values, and we must respect each other. "Airmen come into the Air Force because they want to be part of a winning team," the general said. "And to be a winning team every one of us — every man, every woman — has to be a full-up round. We cannot have a situation in which one Airman, for whatever reason, lives in fear of another. Winning teams do not operate that way. We're a team: men, women, civilians, military, officer, enlisted, Guard, Reserve and active. One team, one total force, one standard." The complete Report Concerning the Assessment of USAF Sexual Assault Prevention and Response, is available at www.af.mil/library/posture/SA_Assessment_Report.pdf. NSTEP University a Major Accredited University Graduate and undergraduate degrees in business, technology and management. with the Military ANYTIME ANYWHERE EDUCATION Online Build your professional foundation with a high-quality, technology-grounded education designed for your success. CABIN Experience career-oriented education. + 2.5-ACRE TRACT Maximize your options with accessible education. $64,950 d near Salt Lake City, beautiful Starvation Lake, the Unitah ovmtain Range, Ashley National Forest. Lakes, and Ski Resorts, Fishing, Camping, Boating, Snowmobiling and Wildlife. Benefit from a student-focused environment. ' Earn your degree from a university that is established and recognized. SPECIAL MILITARY PRICING All active duty members and their spouses CALL: KATHLEEN WHITE Choose the DeVry University Program that is Right for You . Now and in the Future - 801 -544-4163 "Gorgeous views of five different mountain ranges." UTAH MINI RANCHES "Weekend Retreat or Retirement Home" (435) 738-6000 Shown by Appointment Only. Call 7 Days A Week 9 - 6 p.m. Make DeVry your best career move $$$ INSTANTMPASH! $$$ 1 C I P II 00"clen jvmphony Dam ^ s ._' J .-' (JNWii 1,111 presents E PAY YOUR NEXT PAYCHEl TODAY!" with The Utah Symphony Keith Lockhart, Conductor POST-DATED CHECK LOAMS OGDEN 622-8911 2070 Harrison Blvd. Canyon Plaza Shopping Center, Next to Albertson's LAYTON 728-O8OO 11596 North Hill Field Rd. #H (Layton Hills Business Park) 0 WEST VALLEY 973-O4O4 3460 S. Redwood Rd. o (NW Corner 35th & Redwood Center) 0 PHONE kPPLICATIOI SALT LAKE CITY L 272-69OO 3950*S. Highland Dr. (Corner Plaza Shopping Center) Thursday, September 30, 2004 7:30 p.m. Val A. Browning Center Weber State University Don't miss this chance to see the "definitive voice of Broadway!" If ir licki -Is; SOI 399-9214 With SU50 down • S.10II ptr month willi special leims ami credit approval Prices [nclulss: . - ....;. -2.5 acrelot " • ' .3 $19,950 minimum value ' • i • 34x24 all wood ranch style itnrcinra wllti high vaullad •, celling and Bxt2 covered ,A. porch • ••"•\Ot.ji*>"^,'r'Vi/'^•2 bedrooms, lott, kllchen, balh. living area, carpal, vinyl, completely (Inlihed • Addllloni) poixhet. decks, fireplaces, ale. also available • Large floor plim are available |