Sexual assault awareness experiment gone right

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Dawn M. Weber
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  Sexual Assault is a crime that falls short of the standards America expects of its men and women in uniform and is a violation of our Air Force Core Values. The Air Force is committed to preventing, deterring and prosecuting Sexual Assault in its ranks.

The 48th Fighter Wing Inspector General's office conducted an exercise on the base Sexual Assault Prevention and Response office using a variety of scenarios. With the help of Staff Sgt. Dallas Bergl, 493rd Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons load crew chief, the 48th FW did exceptionally well.

"I was asked to report that I had been sexually assaulted," Bergl said. "The scenario was, I had met a friend from Mildenhall at a local pub, and while I was in the bathroom, my soda was drugged. I woke up the next day naked and no one was around. I had no clue what happened."

Bergl was instructed to go to work per usual the next day and at 10:00 a.m. to make the report.

"My face was red. I was out of sorts," Bergl said. "Being a maintainer, I thought people would laugh at me if they knew."

Several NCOs pulled Bergl aside and asked him the jarring question, 'Are you alright?'

"Around 10 o'clock, Tech. Sgt. [Richard] Rice pulled me aside; he was the last person to talk to me. We went into the conference room and I told him the scenario. At the point that I told him I was naked was when he told me that my report had then become unrestricted. He took me into the flight chief's office, called the First Sergeant and then the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator."

Bergl was impressed with the way his superiors and fellow Airmen responded.

"Maintainers, we joke around and act stupid. We aren't the most professional people all the time," Bergl said. "But other Airmen in the unit noticed something was wrong and took the time to ask if I was alright. It's what we're supposed to do as NCOs and as Airmen."

Carolina Yepez, 48th FW Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, expressed her satisfaction and gratitude to everyone who participated in the scenarios.

"For this particular exercise, I was TDY. After the reports were made, when I wasn't able to be reached, the Mildenhall SARC was called. I think it showed great collaboration with the other base and also that no matter what, the SAPR program will be there for the vicitms."

Yepez noted that there were lessons learned from the results of the scenarios including educating Airmen about where jurisdiction lies.

"One important thing we [the SAPR office] learned is that we need to remind the RAF Lakenheath community where our jurisdiction lies in cases including an off-base offender and an on-base victim or an on-base offender and an off-base victim," Yepez said. "Also when dialing 226-7272 or 01638527272, the caller will be connected to Command Post."

She urges callers not to be deterred when they reach the Command Post. Take the time to speak with them, because they will be connected to the proper agencies.

Making a Sexual Assault report can be intimidating, but as Airmen it is everyone's job to step up and step in to make a difference.

"Sexual Assault is a big deal. I wouldn't want something like this scenario to really happen to someone I know, my spouse or even my daughter," Bergl said.

Anyone may contact the base SARC. The SARC also provides one-on-one direct interpersonal support, crisis intervention, referrals and ongoing support.

Editor's note:

To view all the helping agencies available at RAF Lakenheath, visit the Step Up, Step In link

For any questions regarding a possible sexual assault, contact 01638-52-7272, or DSN: 226-7272, the 24-hour hot-line. (If the call forwards to the Command Post, ask to speak to the SARC. All calls are strictly confidential.)