Goodfellow SAPR Office wins Air Force honor

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Breonna Veal
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The 17th Training Wing Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office here received recognition as the 2013 Air Force Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program of the Year March 19.

With 17 wing events sponsored, 582 briefings given and 315 trained sexual assault leaders later, Donna L. Casey, 17th TRW SARC, is grateful for the well-deserved recognition.

"I am immensely happy and proud of our office," said Casey. "I have a wonderful team, and it is nice to be recognized for our hard work and dedication supporting the 17th TRW."

The 17th TRW SAPR Office has made several accomplishments between October 2012 and September 2013. From briefing over 54,000 personnel on sexual assault prevention to certifying 53 victim advocates, the hard work has has been recognized at the highest Air Force level..

"It means a lot to be recognized," said Casey. "The SAPR staff works extremely hard at educating the base and ensuring all victims of sexual assault have a voice and receive the proper care they deserve."

This staff involves four SAPR members at Goodfellow, two at the 517 Training Group in Presidio of Monterey, Calif., and more than 315 trained sexual assault leaders to include the Students Against Sexual Harassment.

By becoming a part of the solution in combating against sexual assault and harassment, the 17th TRW SASH program became the second base in the Air Force to offer this opportunity to help students.

"The SASH Program is a consistent presence in the school house," said Casey. "The teal ropes serve as a symbol and a reminder that it is everyone's responsibility as an Airman to step up and intervene when they see something that is not right."

SAPR implemented the SASH Program to strengthen peer to peer mentoring. In the area of prevention, SASH members are the eyes and ears of their peers. They provide feedback to the SAPR office personnel climate on observations within the training environment.

"The SASH program informs students of outlets available to them if they need information on sexual assault or even help," said Airman Allison Perkins, 17th TRW SASH teal rope. "We lead them in the right direction no matter the circumstance."

Along with implementing a SASH Program, the 17th TRW SAPR Office created innovative marketing tolls such as devising 125 troop walk signs, and started the first ever Wing Color Race, which promoted sexual assault prevention and fitness along with other programs.

"SAPR social events help increase awareness of sexual assault and for us all to take ownership of the issue of sexual assault," added Casey. "It helps our Airmen realize that the only way we are going to prevent sexual assault is by working together and being active bystanders."

Team Goodfellow members aren't the only ones the SAPR reaches out to. The SAPR Office has streamlined and organized sexual assault response process with seven community agencies. They have also partnered with Angelo State University and the Concho Valley Rape Crisis Center for sexual assault training.

With these accomplishments, the SAPR office can't help but be humble and thankful.

"We are only able to accept this award because of the tireless efforts of an incredible, dedicated group of victim advocates, SASH members, supportive leadership and outstanding SAPR staff, with the support of their families, who work tirelessly to support victims and to help enhance the mission readiness of the 17th TRW," said Casey. "The remarkable people all contribute to the strength of our program and are what makes it so strong."

The 17th TRW commander agreed that achieving this award was a group effort and acquired a great sense of creativity to raise awareness about sexual assault.

"It's great that the hard work of our SARCs and Victim Advocates at both Goodfellow AFB and the Presidio of Monterey has been noticed at the Headquarters Air Force level," said Col. Kimberlee P. Joos, 17th TRW Commander. "With a program as complex as this, adherence to procedures and policy is critical. However, there is also an element of creativity as we are always looking for new ways to spread the message about the importance of understanding consent, keeping a culture of dignity and respect in our work centers, and acting in accordance with our Core Values at all times. Our SARC team has truly excelled in all aspects of this program and this award is richly deserved."

From preventing sexual assault to providing events for civilians and military members, the 17th TRW SAPR office ensures the base populous has someone to contact at any time.

For more information on the SASH Program or SAPR events, call 325-654-1572. To call the 24/7 SARC hotline, call 325-654-1570.