Wing to hold sexual assault and prevention training

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Aja Heiden
  • 482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. --  Sexual Assault and Prevention is an Air Force wide program with the purpose of stopping sexual assault by increasing awareness, teaching Airmen how to help each other and by being there to help Airmen as needed.

Sexual Assault Response Coordinators are leading a new annual training to better assist Airmen. Veronica Sforza, Sexual Assault Response Coordinator for the 482nd Fighter Wing, is conducting training to teach representatives from each unit how to conduct the 2014 SAPR Annual Training in their units.

Many organizations throughout the wing will be conducting this training during the upcoming July Unit Training Assembly. The "Train the Trainer" course will be conducted on Sunday, July 13 in building 404 at 1 p.m.

It is an interactive training designed to educate Airmen on identifying offenders and changing the culture to one that stops inappropriate behavior, according to Sforza.
The idea is by having Airmen teach their unit, they will be able to speak their language and they will be able to make the information more relatable to their fellow Airmen.

Sforza is not new to the mission of keeping Airmen fit-to-fight. She has been the SARC here for 7 years, a social worker for approximately 20 years, and she has been in the military for over 30 years. She understands the problems of sexual assault from a civilian prospective and a service member perspective.

"Sexual assault can be one of the most damaging crimes," said Sforza. "Military on military offenses are even worse because servicemen and women are taught to trust and rely on each other. How can you trust someone in uniform after you have been assaulted by someone in the same uniform?"

"Sexual Assault is criminal conduct that falls well short of the standards America expects of its men and women in uniform and is a violation of our Air Force Core Values," as stated on the SAPR link available on the Homestead Air Reserve Base website.

The training aims to correct this problem Air Force wide.

More trainers are needed. If you are interested in becoming a trainer for your unit, then Sforza suggests speaking to your supervisor about the opportunity. It is required that trainers be E-6 and above, O-3 and above, or GS-11 and above. There are no age requirements and exceptions can be made in some circumstances.

"The training is easy to learn. The prospective trainers just need to be shown how to do it," said Sforza.

The goal of the training is to educate Airmen so they are safe and able to get help. The SARC's job is to help Airmen get medical attention and counseling to help recover from the trauma of sexual assault.

To keep Airmen mission ready there is an emphasis on keeping the four pillars of Comprehensive Airman Fitness strong. All components of fitness can be negatively affected if sexual assault or sexual harassment occurs. For the well-being of Airmen who need to be fit-to-flight at all times, new training is created annually.

For more information on sexual assault prevention or assault or to reach the base SARC, call (786) 415-7606. After duty hours, the SARC is available for emergencies at (786) 415-7272.