Sexual Assault Awareness Month - April 2009

  • Published
  • By Dr. Thomas Appel-Schumacher
  • USAFE
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  U.S. Air Forces in Europe bases are taking part in an awareness campaign in April for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). This year's theme is "My Strength is for Defending."

It's the fifth consecutive year that April has been designated for the campaign by DoD and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center.

"Sexual Assault Response Coordinators are planning an awareness campaign to expose many of the myths about and explain many of the realities of sexual assault," said Dr. Thomas Appel-Schumacher, USAFE's sexual assault response coordinator.

"USAFE and Air Force policy have zero tolerance for sexual assault," he said. "Sexual assault is a crime and strikes at the heart of Air Force values, potentially eroding mutual trust, endangering mission accomplishment, and destroying individual lives."

Many Airmen do not yet understand how the main stream contemporary culture is influencing how they think and how they pursue relationships. Stereotypes of women as inanimate sexual objects and men as only able to be men when they make sexual conquests over women are far from reality. Yet the media, in all its forms, promotes this attitude.

Positive relationship building can only begin upon the foundation of respect and trust. Assaulting someone sexually follows values that are the exact opposite of those key concepts.

In relationships, sexual and otherwise, respect means to listen and carefully consider the other's feelings and wants. Trust means that there is confidence and the expectation that one person will not harm the other.

Openly communicated consent between partners to proceed with sexual activity is vital to preventing sexual assault. The initiator of the sexual activity must ask if it's OK to continue. When someone says "no" or "stop" or "I don't like this," then the activity must stop. If alcohol is involved, even more communication and caution must be used as alcohol impairs thinking, judgment, and decision making.

Anyone who goes ahead with sexual activity when the other person does not want it has committed a crime. Most rapes (or other sexual assaults) are committed by someone known to the victim (80%). Ensuring consent is often not clearly done. These acquaintances are just that - the people do not know each other very well.

Communication may not be clear

When unwanted sexual contact occurs it often is called acquaintance rape or "date rape." Those labels may seem not to be as serious as the commonly held view of rape occurring in a dark alley with a masked stranger, who uses a weapon or violence. But do not misunderstand, unwanted sexual contact without consent is rape and sexual assault.

USAFE leadership, both at the headquarters and across command installations asks Airmen to be responsible Wingmen, not only in April but throughout their careers.

"Without proper consent, sexual encounters can easily cross over a critical boundary and change from a consensual activity to one of a major crime," said Dr. Appel-Schumacher. "Use your strength to defend each others' respect, dignity, and to uphold the AF core values."

Call your local SARC at base prefix XXX-7272 to help. (At 501 CSW call 247-3020)

Activities to watch for and with which to get involved during Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April:

RAF LAKENHEATH & RAF MILDENHALL, SAAM EVENTS

The RAF Lakenheath (RAFL) and RAF Mildenhall (RAFM) Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Offices have joined forces to present activities for April 2009.

- 7 April - opening of SAAM at BXtra RAF Mildenhall, combined event with
other IDS agencies at RAF Lakenheath BX for all of April theme months
- 13 April -Sex Signals RAF Mildenhall
- 14 April - Sex Signals RAF Lakenheath
- Two week table at BX and BXtra with information and SAAM give aways
- 18 April - Fun Run at RAF Mildenhall - sponsored by RAF Mildenhal and RAF Lakenheath SAPROs
- RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath - SFS at both bases will be handing
out car freshener ribbons at the gates during the month of April

- Point of contact RAF Lakenheath SARC Capt. Fennel, 48 FW/CVK, 226-2882 and RAF Mildenhall SARC Ms. Rebekah Downs, 100 ARW/CVK, 238-5723

INCIRLIK AB, SAAM EVENTS

 1 - 30 April - Display at Library with Books/DVDs of Pertinent Topics
 6 - 9 April - Victim Advocate Course
 8 April - Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Class
 11 April - Cross-Country Relay
- 16 - 18 April - BX Info Table/Leave a Message for a Sexual Assault Survivor
 21 April - Assertive Communication Class
 25 April - Information Table at Spring Fling

- Point of Contact Incirlik SARC, Capt. Ted Rieth, 39 ABW/CVK, 676-7272

RAMSTEIN AB, SAAM EVENTS

 Clothesline Project - Ongoing
 1 April - "Pledge to End Sexual Assault" Kickoff
o Banner signing
 2 April at 1200 - Russell Strand at Ramstein Officers Club
o Wing CCs and CVs, OSI, Legal, Investigators
 7/9 April - Self Defense Classes at Ramstein (0700) and Kleber (1200)
 8 April at 1300 - Killing Us Softly: Advertising's Image of Women at USAFE
Conference Center
 14 April 1100-1300 - "Sometimes the Best Beer is a Root beer" at
Vogelweh/Ramstein BXs
 15 April at 0700 - Information at the Gates
 17 April at 1500 - 5K Run/Walk
 20-24 April - Volunteer Week Partnership with AFRC
 22 April - Booth at HAWC Health Fair for Wellness Day
 27-28 April - "Sex Signals" performances
o Mandatory for dorm residents
o NOTE: WILL count toward annual training!
 30 April - Shine the Light Walk at Vogelweh
 Other Projects/Events: Two giveaway Events, Movie, Display at Library

- Point of Contact Ramstein SARC, Capt. Vanessa Vanden Bout and Capt. Shontre McFarlin, 435 ABW/CVK, 480-7272

AVIANO AB, SAAM EVENTS

 21-22 April - "Sex Signals" play
o NOTE: WILL count toward annual training!

- Point of Contact Aviano SARC, Capt. Kelly Wilds, 31 FW/CVK, 632-7272

LAJES FIELD, SAAM EVENTS

- 8 April - WSA and Commanders Sexual Assault Annual Trng (Skit)
- 9 April - Alcohol Awareness Day (SARC Booth)
- 20 April - Sex Signals Performance (approx 90 mins/ 2 actors perform skits
that deal w/dating: rape, consent, alcohol and intervention)
- 30 April - SUM Dinner
- Self-defense/ Assertiveness (Instructors: Lt Col Pollock and Maj Simpson) -
Every Thursday

- Point of Contact Lajes SARC, Capt. Angela Carlington, 65 ABW/CVK, 535-7272

SPANGDAHLEM AB, SAAM EVENTS

- 1 April at 0800 & 1600 - AFN Radio Show
- 1 April - AFN Local News (Eifel News)
- 2 April at 1600 - Bowling Fundraiser
- 15 April at 0600 & 1600 - 5k Run
 17 April - "Sex Signals" play (0800, 1200, 1500)
o Mandatory for dorm residents
o NOTE: WILL count toward annual training!
 17 April - Payday Lunch at The Adler
- 24 April at 1500 - Brickhouse Movie
- 25 April at 1100 - Self Defense Class
- 27 April at 1100 - VA Appreciation Luncheon at the Club
- 30 April - AFN Local News
- Geographically Separated Unit (GSU) BBQs - Date TBD
- High School Essay Contest - Date TBD
- High School Movie - Date TBD
- Softball Tournament - Date TBD
- Clothesline Project - Date TBD
- Crossword Puzzles
- Posters/Flyers

- Point of Contact Spangdahlem SARC, Capt. Toni Tanner/Lt Ingrid Muniz, 52 FW/CVK,
452-7272

501st CSW, SAAM EVENTS

- 1 April - School Health Fair: 0830-1230 AES; 1300-1500 AM/HS
- 2 April - SAAM Tea (survivor presentation, proclamation, speech)
1430- RAF Alconbury CAC
 15 April - Sex Signals 1030 Menwith Hill Community Club Ballroom
- 16 April - Sex Signals 0800 RAF Fairford theater; 1500 RAF Alconbury
theater
- 21 April - Lunafest (international film festival)
1800 (RAF Menwith Hill or RAF Croughton)
- 22 April - Lunafest 1800 RAF Alconbury
- 24 April - Teal Ribbon Run (time to be announced) RAF Alconbury Fitness
Center
- Clothesline Project (ongoing traveling display)

- Point of Contact 501 CSW, Ms Kimberly Dickman, 501CSW/SARC, 247-3020