The Patriot Files Forums  

Go Back   The Patriot Files Forums > Branch Posts > Airforce

Post New Thread  Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 06-20-2005, 02:48 PM
BLUEHAWK's Avatar
BLUEHAWK BLUEHAWK is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: May 2002
Location: Ozarks
Posts: 4,638
Send a message via Yahoo to BLUEHAWK
Distinctions
Contributor 
Default SARC (Sexual Assault Response Coordinators)

AETCNS 062005117

Sexual Assault Victims Have Choices with SARC

By 1st Lt. Ben Gamble

AETC Public Affairs

"RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, TEXAS (AETCNS) -- A host of new options became available to survivors of sexual assault when the Air Force brought a cadre of trained Sexual Assault Response Coordinators on duty Tuesday.

Not merely an additional duty, the SARC position is commonly held by a GS-12 rated Department of Defense civilian employee who reports directly to the base's wing vice commander. More than 200 SARCs are now on duty throughout the Air Force with some larger bases supported by a uniformed military member as a deputy SARC.

The SARCs will implement and manage the installation level Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program and serve as consultant to the commander on institutionalizing core values for the Department of the Air Force, according to DoD officials.

"The SARC's main purpose is to help the survivors (of sexual assault) take the first step - to take care of themselves, which does not have to mean immediate legal recourse," said Ms. Christine Burnett, Air Education and Training Command interim SARC. "Once they get the medical, spiritual or psychological help they need, then the SARC can also help a survivor take legal steps against the attacker."

A SARC will spend most of his or her time implementing prevention and education measures at unit commander's calls and newcomers' briefings. In the event a sexual assault is reported, SARCs have undergone extensive training at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, in preparation to help a survivor.

"(A SARC is) available twenty-four hours a day," said Capt. Niki Rasnake, Randolph interim SARC. "It doesn't matter if the assault happened last night or two weeks ago, our goal is to get people the help they need."

Another important function of the SARC is to protect the identity of the survivor, Ms. Burnett said. A new process known as restricted reporting enables the SARC to control which agencies are reported to at what time. This allows the survivor to decide if and when they wish to report the assault to legal or law enforcement agencies, which could require the survivor to identify themselves in order for an investigation to take place.

"Until now, only chaplains could offer confidentiality and medical personnel were required to report crimes, including sexual assault. With these changes, medical personnel who learn of a sexual assault will call the SARC to aid the victim in making a decision about reporting," Ms. Burnett said. "Restricted reporting allows the survivor more options in confidentiality and control over where this information is shared, while still allowing the survivor to get the help they need to deal with their ordeal.

"The restricted reporting concept is a big change for us in the Air Force," she said. "We've learned that, in some cases, the survivor feels like they're being victimized twice because they are not prepared for the exposure and attention they receive as part of prosecuting an investigation."

The SARC role ties in perfectly to the Wingman program, in which Airmen look out for the well-being of their fellow Airmen, officials said. SARCs hold a secondary title of Wingman Support Coordinator.

In addition to the base SARC, another crucial part of the sexual assault prevention effort is the victim advocacy program. A victim's advocate is a military or civilian employee volunteer who works as an extension of the SARC to minister directly to a survivor's needs. Members who wish to apply to be a VA may do so by contacting their unit SARC.

For more information about the SARC program, call Ms. Burnett at (210) 652-6099."
sendpm.gif Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
More sexual hi-jinks. colmurph Political Debate 5 08-15-2004 07:03 AM
Academy won't tolerate sexual assault judyvillecco Women Patriots 10 08-26-2003 02:57 PM
Navy Punishes Chaplains for Sexual Abuse thedrifter Marines 0 07-05-2003 11:21 AM
Sexual assault case should be dismissed, Marine's lawyer says thedrifter Marines 1 06-07-2003 09:15 AM
'Sexual Orientation' Measure Fails at UN MORTARDUDE General Posts 1 04-30-2003 02:25 PM

All times are GMT -7. The time now is 08:16 AM.


Powered by vBulletin, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.