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AFSC commander: Sexual assault devastates military

  • Published
  • By Brandice J. O'Brien
  • Tinker AFB Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  AFSC commander says zero tolerance is the only standard.

"Sexual assaults devastate our military and survivors," said Lt. Gen. Bruce Litchfield, Air Force Sustainment Center commander. "Our success is predicated on unit cohesion and performing as a team. If any of our teammates feel threatened or worse, have been violated, it destroys the very fiber that makes us successful as a military. Sexual assault doesn't just affect the survivor; it affects the entire unit, organization and military branch."

The general is joining other commanders in holding "stand down" days across their organizations in order to bring awareness to the issue of sexual assault. These stand-down days will involve discussions on the prevention and reporting processes for sexual assault in the work centers and surrounding communities, as well as providing compassion for survivors.

While this is an Air Force-wide problem, the general said it is essential his workforce of 32,000 personnel understands that there is a "zero tolerance" policy in AFSC.

According to General Litchfield, a big part of the problem is people don't understand the magnitude of it, or all the specifics of the Air Forces Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program.

As of May 2013, there have been 513 reported sexual assaults in the Air Force. In fiscal 2012, there were 790, a sharp increase over previous years. While most assaults are committed by young male Airmen perpetrators, targets can be anyone.

"It's devastating when an assault occurs, but survivors shouldn't also be let down by the system," stressed the general.

To that end, the Air Force is taking a more proactive and aggressive approach to combating sexual assault. Victim advocates, sexual assault response coordinators, and other forms of assistance are available should an incident occur, the general said. It is his hope that survivors realize there are many people who want to help them recover.

General Litchfield said one key to combating the problem is greater awareness. He recently spoke to a group of 25 leaders and asked them how many of them talked about sexual assault in their respective units on a regular basis. He was surprised that only one person raised their hand.

"The subject of sexual assault needs to be addressed and discussed just as often as the topics of resiliency and safety," he said. "Ask Airmen what's going on this weekend. Ask who's going to a party. Let them know if alcohol will be served, Airmen need to watch out for one another and be good wingmen; help that airman out of an uncomfortable situation and prevent a crime from occurring."

The general said he knows new Airmen come from different backgrounds and groundings. But, by ensuring there is a standard against sexual assault in which individuals are held accountable when the standard is violated, there will be greater success eliminating the problem.

"I will know we are making progress when everyone can recommend the Air Force as a great place for their daughters. And, when any sexual assault survivor would recommend the Air Force to their children because they are confident of the environment," said the general; himself a father of a teenage daughter who might one day be considering a military career.

"Zero tolerance is the standard and anything less is failure," he said. "It's incumbent on our supervisors, commanders, chiefs, non-commissioned officers to ensure folks know this is not an acceptable behavior in our military and civilian workforce.

He went on to explain, "It is really just an extension of the wingmen's responsibilities that we all know and believe in."