Photo By Sgt. Erica Earl | The commanding general for America’s First Corps Lt. Gen. Gary Volesky stands in...... read more read more
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When Heath Phillips enlisted into the United States Navy when he was 17, we was hoping to find a family among his shipmates. Phillips was raised in a military family and was excited to have experiences like his father told him about. Phillips did not anticipate the horrors that unfolded at his first duty station as a group of six sailors repeatedly sexually assaulted him over a year’s time.
In one incident, Phillips was taking a shower when someone ripped open the curtain. His six attackers kicked him to the ground and held him there while one of them attempted to sexually assault him with a shampoo bottle, attempted to rape him and proceeded to sodomize him with a toilet brush handle.
Shortly after the assault, Phillips attempted suicide.
“I didn’t know how to tell my father,” Phillips said. “But this haunted me. The pain was so bad that I passed out. I tried to tell my command, but no one believed me.”
This happened in 1988, before sexually harassment and assault reporting programs and awareness were formally established in the military.
Phillips now speaks at military bases and military functions about sexual assault, highlighting that people of any gender can be a victim.
Phillips’ story is powerful, and he says his speaking engagements has been slowly helping him heal from his trauma as he helps others, but he is only one story among many that calls to the importance of victim advocates.
On Joint-Base Lewis McChord, the Sexual Assault Response and Coordinator/ Victim Advocates (SARC/VA) course puts future advocates through an intensive program meant to help service members like Phillips.
The SARC/VA course trains officers and noncommissioned officers to assist those who have gone through sexual assault or similar trauma through investigations, legal proceedings and emotional support. The SARC/VAs are also expected to do workplace inspections to ensure units are operating under safe and healthy environments. Participants in the course are command-selected.
Lt. Gen. Gary Volesky, the commanding general for America’s First Corps on JBLM, highlighted the importance of the role of SARC/Vas while speaking at a course graduation in April during Sexual Harassment and Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) awareness month.
“It breaks my heart every time I hear that we have another report,” Volesky said. “While a Soldier may not have physically died, there is a part of them that has died. I am holding you to the highest standards of discipline, because you have a bond with these Soldiers that very few people have.”
Phillips emphasized the need for these advocates for all service members, all well as the need of speaking about the sides of sexual assault that can be uncomfortable, to include what happens physically, mentally and emotionally to victims and the years of turmoil they endure.
Phillips said while it can still be taxing to share his story, he is driven to do so for one overarching message, that victims are not alone.
When a formal investigation was launched about Phillips’ case, it was discovered that the men who assaulted him also attacked 17 other people.
“It was this light bulb moment that I wasn’t alone,” Phillips said. “But in reflection it bothers me. Why did no one help us? People knew it happened, but they didn’t speak up.”
Dr. Julie Lindahl, a forensic psychologist and SHARP program manager for First Corps, said that awareness around sexual assault prevention and victim resources should not be limited to the Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month in April.
“Awareness around sexual assault is oftentimes neglected,” Lindahl said. “We need to have these difficult conversations and communicate and engage in the fight.”
According to a 2017 report from the Department of Defense Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, Soldiers and Airmen filed 153 reports of sexual assault on JBLM, up from 93 reports that were filed in fiscal year 2013. This is not considering incidents that went unreported.
Lindahl said speaking up as a victim or a witness can present a challenge. She said people fear retaliation from their units or the aggressor, that people will defend the aggressor, that the victim will be blamed, or that their claim won’t be taken seriously.
“It is never a victim’s fault,” Lindahl said. “We want to make sure service members are safe and secure and know their rights and options.”
Lindahl said SHARP training can pass quietly, and she would like to see that change.
“Prevention is everyone’s responsibility,” Lindahl said. “We can’t solve and eliminate the issue of assault without participation.”
Volesky stressed the values of family-type bonds that Phillips was seeking when he enlisted.
“These Soldiers are our children, our brothers and our sisters,” Volesky said. “We don’t need to coddle them, but we do need to solve important problems.”
If you or anyone you know is suffering abuse, sexual harassment or sexual assault, call Military OneSource at 1-800-342-9647 or the DOD Safe Helpline at 1-877-995-5247.
To report or get help recovering from incidents of sexual assault or harassment on JBLM, contact your unit’s victim advocates or call the SHARP hotline at 253-389-8469.
| Date Taken: | 11.26.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 11.29.2018 17:15 |
| Story ID: | 301715 |
| Location: | WA, US |
| Web Views: | 312 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, It can happen to anyone: survivor and victim advocates speak up on sexual assault, by SGT Erica Earl, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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