Photo By Roland Balik | One hundred fifty-nine Sexual Assault Awareness Month campaign posters cover the...... read more read more
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DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. – Team Dover kicked off Sexual Assault Awareness Month with wing senior leadership and base personnel placing “No More” campaign posters with their own individual message on the graffiti wall located in the base Fitness Center, March 31, 2017.
Each campaign poster had “I say no more because” preprinted on it and displayed a hand-written or typed message written by base personnel, were placed on the 10 by 15 foot graffiti wall near the entrance to the basketball court showing support against domestic violence and sexual assault.
Col. Ethan Griffin, 436th Airlift Wing commander, along with group and squadron commanders, and numerous Volunteer Victim Advocates were the first to place messages on the wall, an activity organized by Gail Reed-Attoh, 436th AW Sexual Assault Response Coordinator.
“The event went very well, especially when you have leadership involved, that’s very important for this program to start from the top down” said Reed-Attoh. “When we come together as a team, that’s how we fight against sexual assault.”
Speaking to VVAs and those gathered by the wall, Griffin stated “As I went around and talked to each of our volunteer victim advocates, you guys are the life blood of what makes prevention and recovery so important. Hopefully you are not getting those phone calls, but when you do, you are the ones that can mitigate the damage and help start that recovery process for our injured airmen.”
Dover AFB has 27 VVAs, both male and female, ready to help sexual assault victims 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“Here at Team Dover, we talk about dignity and respect being a daily event,” said Griffin. “If we just incorporate that into our daily lives, sexual assault won’t be a problem. I think a goal of eradicating it here at Dover AFB, we can shine and show the Air Force, the Army, the Navy and the Marines, the way forward from this installation.”
This was the fourth year the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response office has facilitated the graffiti wall during SAAM, which yielded over 150 campaign posters by the end of the first day.
“I am pleased and moved at the same time by the amount of people that participated,” said Wil Roberson, 436th AW SAPR program specialist. “It was a pleasant surprise that so many people took part.”
Open to all of Team Dover, the following scheduled activities during SAAM are to help promote the Comprehensive Airman Fitness Program that encompasses mental, physical, spiritual and social fitness; enhance resilience, healthy relationships and social skills:
- April 3 through June 2: Walk-A-Lap. All participants will receive a FREE pedometer to walk 50+ miles on behalf of Sexual Assault Survivors.
- April 19 starting at 7 a.m.: Victim Advocate promotional and awareness handouts will be given out at the Main Gate.
- April 21 starting at 8 a.m.: Color Fun Run, Joint Personal Effects Depot to the North Gate, back to JPED. No dogs allowed.
- April 21 starting at 5 p.m.: Canvas painting event at The Landings; cost is $12 and includes supplies.
- April 27 starting at 11 a.m.: Lunch and Learn event; The Real Face of Human Trafficking in Delaware, at the 3d Airlift Squadron Auditorium; how to identify potential victims and guidance on how to respond appropriately.
“People put a lot of effort into their comments this year and appeared to be very sincere, well versed and knowledgeable of the program itself,” said Roberson. “Respect was the common denominator.”
For more information on the SAPR program or becoming a VVA, please contact Gail Reed-Attoh at 677-3680, Wil Roberson at 677-4357 (HELP) or go to www.sapr.mil. To report sexual assault, call the SAPR 24/7 Report-Line at 302-363-7272 (SARC) or the Department of Defense Safe Helpline, 1-877-995-5247.
| Date Taken: | 03.31.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 04.04.2017 15:46 |
| Story ID: | 229178 |
| Location: | DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, DE, US |
| Web Views: | 53 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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