U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Airmen across the globe will take part in Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention month in April to increase awareness, prevent sexual assault and show care and concern for the victims of this crime.
]The Air Force Academy is no exception, and cadets and staff will host activities to help us on our institutional journey toward eradicating sexual assault from our campus. This year’s theme is “Protecting our people protects our mission.”
"Team USAFA is expected to embody the Air Force core values every day, whether on or off duty, uniformed or civilian,” said Col. Kathleen Flarity, the Academy’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program manager.
Flarity said prevention and awareness is every Airman’s job.
“Our people are our best asset in preventing sexual assault,” she said. “Education is critical in responding to sexual assault and eradicating this terrible crime from our campus in all forms. Every Airman who enforces professionalism in their workplace and insists their wingmen treat each other with dignity and respect is taking action to eliminate sexual assault and support survivors.”
Social Impact Theatre
We’ll host a cadet-led social impact theater featuring a bystander intervention theme, 7 p.m. April 12 in Arnold Hall Theatre. The "Social Impact Theater is presented by the cadet theater group, the Blue Bards.
Teal Tuesday
Get your teal ribbons from the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response office as we encourage all Total Force Airmen to wear teal every Tuesday during April. Teal is the official color of the SAPR program and symbolizes sexual assault prevention and response.
Doctor Howard Fradkin
Dr. Fradkin has counseled more than 1,500 male sexual assault survivors in individual, couples and group psychotherapy and weekend workshops. He’s scheduled to speak 6:30 - 8 p.m. April 12 in Arnold Hall.
Painting workshop
This event is for single junior-enlisted Airmen at the Community Chapel’s Fellowship Hall, 6-8:30 p.m., April 17. The workshop will focus on visually expressing each person’s idea of what sexual trauma “feels like” from the victim’s perspective in the military.
Volunteer Victim Advocates Appreciation Lunch
We’ll host a lunch and appreciation ceremony to recognize our volunteer victim advocates, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., April 28 in Polaris Hall.
SAPR outreach
We’ll also host SAPR outreach tables April 6, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in Mitchell Hall; 9:30-11:30 a.m. April 12 in the Air Force Preparatory School dining facility; 9:30-11:30 a.m. in the Athletic Department; and 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in Fairchild Hall.
“I encourage you take the time and bring your family or a friend to at least one of these SAAPM events," Flarity said. Let's continue to make advances together in education, promoting and understanding that defeating sexual assault must be done with a one team, one fight mentality."