101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs

Hometown: Fort Campbell, KY, US

Preventing sexual assault by lacing up

04.13.2013 | FORT CAMPBELL, KY, US
Story by Sgt. 1st Class Mary Rose Mittlesteadt

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. –Fort Campbell’s Sexual Harassment, Assault, Response and Prevention Program (SHARP) team laced up their walking shoes to spotlight April’s National Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) by hosting a walk-a-mile for sexual assault prevention, at the installation’s Fryar Stadium, April 13.

“Events like this walk-a-mile bring much needed attention to the prevention of sexual assaults, said Master Sgt. Deanna Carter, the SHARP representative for the 101st Sustainment Brigade, the Lifeliners. “The Fort Campbell military and civilian leadership has gone through great lengths to educate and show victims within our community, that we do care about them, and that we are a team working together.”

The event not only was a walk; the walkers were able to peruse information on awareness, participate in an intoxication simulation demonstration and balloon release.

The intoxication simulation demonstration put participants behind a pair of goggles that represent a blood-alcohol content of more than three times the federal legal limit. The balloon release was an opportunity for the walkers to take a moment and remember why they participated in the walk and dedicate themselves to doing their part in combating sexual violence in their communities.

“The balloon release at the end of the walk was the most enjoyable, said Carter. “I believe that it signified something different for each person who let one go rather it be closure, a new beginning, a prayer or just something fun.”

Understanding why Fort Campbell is so adamant about educating its people can be found in statistics and how these statistics.

According to Lt. Col. Carin O. Hass, the Fort Campbell SHARP program director, published statistics in his article published in the Fort Campbell Courier, April 11, titled Command Message: Awareness: Intervene, Act, Motivate, “There are more than 207,000 sexual assaults a year in the United States. That means there is one sexual assault in this country almost every two minutes. Some additional facts about sexual assault are: Approximately 80 percent of sexual assault victims are under the age of 30; 54 percent of sexual assaults go unreported; and approximately two thirds of sexual assaults are committed by someone that the victim knows.”

Fort Campbell is truly dedicated to the mission of bringing awareness and education to its community and combating sexual assault, said Carter. “I would like to thank everyone who came to support us, it truly meant a lot. What I wish for is that every walker to leave this event with awareness and motivation to speak out about sexual assaults and the damaging effects it may have not only on a person’s life, but the community as a whole.”