TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- About 80 Tinker AFB commanders, civilian directors, chiefs and other key leaders attended the third annual Tinker SAPR Symposium Jan. 12 —an in-depth refresher course about the wide-ranging resources and trained advocates who support victims of sexual assault.
The half-day event at the Tinker Chapel included presentations by nearly a dozen stakeholders who are part of the base’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program. They included the Office of Special Investigations, Special Victims Counsel and victim advocates and coordinators from the Navy and Air Force.
Scott Crum, the Air Force Materiel Command Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, praised Tinker’s “unique and awesome” commitment to preventing sexual assaults. Other installations and commands don’t necessarily hold events like the symposium, Mr. Crum said.
“If you ever need anything, you’ve got one of the best SAPR teams in the Air Force here,” Mr. Crum said. “I’m not just saying that blindly. They are experienced and they know what they’re doing.”
Sheryl Milton, manager of the base’s SAPR program, said the annual event is a “collaborative effort to inform commanders and senior leaders on what the requirements are so that they are not unexpectedly exposed to some SAPR-related incident with no knowledge on how to proceed.”
Presentations included a simulation with volunteers playing the parts of a distraught victim reporting an assault and SAPR responders who are trained to handle each aspect of the reporting process. Two key first responders are a sexual assault victim advocate and the Special Victims Counsel, a government attorney charged with solely acting in a victim’s behalf throughout the process.
One of the last presentations was by a technical sergeant, who survived a sexual assault more than two years ago at another duty location.
The sergeant initially filed a restricted report, a confidential process that does not trigger an official investigation or notification to command or superiors. She said she credited her top leaders’ sensitive and appropriate treatment for helping her to open an unrestricted investigation that led to the court-martial conviction of her assailant.
She said commanders, chiefs, first sergeants and others attending the symposium are key to preventing and, if needed, responding in the best way possible to sexual assaults. The sergeant successfully tested for a promotion after enduring the difficult court-martial and finished separate associate’s and bachelor’s degrees.
Her final remarks prompted a standing ovation.
“I didn’t think it was possible that something this bad could happen to me and that I would still have a family in the Air Force,” the sergeant said. “You in this room are what makes a victim become a survivor. I thank you all for that. I’m a survivor of sexual assault, and I’m proud to say I’m a member of the U.S. Air Force.”
Col. Stephanie Wilson, 72nd Air Base Wing commander, thanked the sergeant for telling her story about the importance of leadership’s role in responding to sexual assaults.
“There is a lot on your plates,” Colonel Wilson said, “yet this is one of the most important things that you can do. This symposium was really intended to make sure you have the tools to get this right.”