SAPR orientation provides cohesion across Air Force

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Torri Ingalsbe
  • Air Force Public Affairs Agency
WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response coordinators from each Air Force major command attended the first three-day orientation and training here to discuss issues and innovations with Air Force SAPR top leaders and subject matter experts, July 29 - 31.

"The purpose of this training was to bring all major command (program managers) together to expound on their roles and responsibilities to their commanders and installation SARCs," said Debbie Allen, Headquarters Air Force chief of SAPR operations. "This level of leadership is essential to program management and case consultation. In addition, this relationship provides opportunity to monitor program compliance and recommendations to leadership regarding improving climate to help eliminate sexual assault."

The training consisted of several group discussions, education and training workshops and focused on different tools and resources available. An off-site visit to a Defense Department community partner, the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, provided additional information about resources available to survivors.

"It was the first time they ever pulled us together to discuss the status of the SAPR program," said Teresa Beasley, the U.S. Air Force Academy's SAPR coordinator. "We were able to discuss issues specific to the Academy not specifically mentioned by Air Force policy. For example, how do you handle an expedited transfer at a service academy?"

An expedited transfer allows victims of sexual assault to transfer to another location if they find it unbearable to continue serving at their current location, the DOD policy doesn't apply at the Academy, she said.

"When the Air Force writes Air Force Instructions, they're writing for the AF institution as a whole," Beasley said. "The Academy is a little different - we're a college. And we were able to discuss issues pertaining directly to us."

Service academies, besides being educational institutions, have many governing bodies, Beasley said.

"We answer not only to Air Force, but to the DOD, Congress and our Board of Visitors," she said. "It was helpful to talk to the Air Force SAPR so they could see how complicated our policies and guidance at USAFA is. One big take away for all of the MAJCOMs is that SAPR training will become less policy and definition driven and include more scenarios, role plays and be more tactical. Airmen want to know what to do and audiences want to discuss the issues."

On the final day of training, Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James spoke with the major command SARCs to discuss her priorities and get input from the coordinators.

"You guys are extremely important to this overall effort," James said. "The best ideas frequently come from the front line, so please bring new ideas forward."

She spoke to the SARCs about the importance of collaboration and partnerships with various agencies including Air Force Office of Special Investigations, legal and equal employment offices.

"The SARCS were very positive about this opportunity to interact and learn with each other, Headquarters Air Force SAPR, Secretary James and Maj. Gen. (Gina) Grosso," Allen said. "Not only were they able to increase their knowledge on the subject matter, but they were able to share their concerns, needs and provided valuable input from the field to better inform the continued development of the Air Force SAPR program."

The discussions from the training have driven the idea to develop a semi-monthly newsletter from the headquarters to the MAJCOM level, which will share the latest information and way ahead from partner agencies, as well as the development of a SARC office operations manual.

"My assessment after (my) first seven months is that we're making good progress, but it doesn't mean we're done," James said. "Don't ever feel that you're in this by yourselves. The ultimate goal is that we want to get rid of sexual assault completely from our Air Force. Thank you for being on the front lines of this war."

(Ray Bowden, U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs contributed to this article).