Sexual Assault Training

Warrior - Citizen, 2009 by Steiner, Christina

FORT MCCOY, Wis. - The third annual Joint Services Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Program training brought more than 125 participants nationwide to Fort McCoy from April 27 to May 1, 2009 for an engaging five days of certification and recertification as unit or installation victim advocates (UVA/IVA). The workshop took place at the Wisconsin Military Academy.

Subject-matter experts in psychology, criminology, counseling and advocacy spoke at length to UVA trainees and those receiving annual recertification. Instruction was interactive, to include small-group break-out sessions, partner and group exercises and film documentaries.

Some of the latest SAPR research shows that "one in four women and one in six men have been sexually assaulted in their lifetime," said Lt. Col. Cynthia Rasmussen, psychiatric nurse specializing in combat stress and SAPR for the 88th Regional Support Command at Fort Snelling, Minn. Rasmussen helped found the Army's SAPR program in 2004 and wrote some of the Department of Defense Issuances on the topic.

"There are things that may happen in this room this week that may trigger memories," Rasmussen said. "We have confidentiality and want you to feel safe. Rank has no concerns here. We're all here to learn."

Many myths stereotypes surrounding sexual assault still exist today, despite research to the contrary. One myth is: if a victim is being sexually assaulted, why doesn't she or he scream and fight back? Other myths continue to blame the victim by suggesting that clothing or certain behaviors prior to an assault made the victim at fault.

"More than 50 percent of victims believe their lives are in danger during the assault and they freeze up," said 1st Lt. Kristen Boustany, Joint Forces Sexual Assault Response Coordinator for the Wisconsin Army National Guard, and one of the instructors during the week. "One new initiative is, 'Ask her when she's sober,' which will avoid legal trouble [for the initiator]."

"Eighty-four percent of sexual assaults are non strangers, and more than half are intimate partners," said Boustany.

SAPR is a Defense Department program, though each individual service may have slightly different terminology and protocol. The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program Office, headquartered at the Pentagon, governs each service's program. Confidential victim reporting became available in 2005. Up until then, victim reporting always initiated a criminal investigation. With confidential reporting, victims can receive health and psychological counseling, and can choose whether to press charges and initiate an investigation later. This is an incentive to encourage sexual assault victims to seek help.

Story and Photo By Master Sgt. Christina Steiner

84th Training Command