Sexual assault, awareness is key

Photo By Sgt. Juanita Philip | Michele Linger, Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, lends an ear to a Joint Task Force Guantanamo service member during a counseling session, March 25. The SARC monitors the care of sexual assault victims through the Fleet and Family Support Center. JTF Guantanamo conducts safe, humane, legal and transparent care and custody of detainees, including those convicted by military commission and those ordered released by a court. The JTF conducts intelligence collection, analysis and dissemination for the protection of detainees and personnel working in JTF Guantanamo facilities and in support of the War on Terror. JTF Guantanamo provides support to the Office of Military Commissions, to law enforcement and to war crimes investigations. The JTF conducts planning for and, on order, responds to Caribbean mass migration operations.  

GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA

04.02.2010

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Sean Allen 

Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs

The Navy traditionally has done its best to take care of Sailors. However, in 1990, as part of its update report on the Progress of Women in the Navy, the Navy women's study group made a number of recommendations regarding the assimilation of women into the Navy.

As a result of these recommendations, the Navy was the first service to have a dedicated, funded program for sexual assault. Established in 1994, the Navy Sexual Assault Victim Intervention program offers a standardized, consistent, victim-sensitive system to prevent and respond to sexual assault Navy-wide.

The prevention of sexual assault through awareness and education training is the overall goal of the Joint Task Force Guantanamo's SAVI program.

With alcohol being a factor in most assaults, it is important for service members to be aware of the risks that come with drinking too much.

"Almost all of the sexual assaults that take place here in Guantanamo Bay involve alcohol," said Michele Linger, the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator at the Fleet and Family Support Center, "whether it is the victim who is under the influence or the perpetrator."

A little planning could prevent a good time from turning into a bad time.

"It is OK for people to go out and have fun and drink responsibly, but they must have a plan." Linger said. "It is best to utilize the buddy system, pick somebody you trust, designate who is going to drink, and stick to the plan."

The Fleet and Family Support Center offers tips to help avoid potential dangerous situations.

Trust your instincts. If you feel something is wrong, it probably is.

Lock your room at night when you arrive home.

Watch out for other's safety and take care of each other.

Tell a friend where you are at all times.

When you go out, go with a group, and leave with that group.

If you do go out alone, make sure somebody knows where you are going, what time you left, and what time you expect to be home.

Do not accept drinks from people you do not know or trust.

Do not leave your drink unattended.

If you feel uncomfortable, scared, or pressured, act quickly to end the situation. Say, "Stop it" and leave or call for help.

Department of Defense Directive 6495.01 defines sexual assault as intentional sexual contact, characterized by the use of force, threats, intimidation, abuse of authority, or a situation in which the victim does not or cannot give consent.

The Department of Defense has two sexual assault reporting procedures: restricted and unrestricted. If someone wishes to file a restricted report, the individual may only notify a victim advocate, SARC, healthcare provider or chaplain. Law enforcement officials and the military are not notified and the matter remains confidential.

The sexual assault victim will be provided a victim advocate as well as counseling and health care resources. A victim may switch from restricted to unrestricted if he or she wishes to file a police report.

With unrestricted reporting, an official law enforcement investigation is initiated. The sexual assault victim will be provided a victim advocate as well as counseling and health care resources.

The SARC will monitor the care, and the victim will be updated monthly on the status of the investigation. Once a victim decides on unrestricted reporting, he or she cannot go back and change it to restricted reporting.

Sexual assault is not only detrimental to unit morale, cohesion and readiness, it also has a lifetime of consequences for the perpetrator.

"Many of these young men and women don't understand that if convicted of a sex crime, most will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of their lives," said Patty Lyons, NCIS Special Agent. "The reality of it is sexual assault is one of those crimes that will only increase if the suspect isn't caught. If someone gets away with it once, they will normally try it again and again."

• Date Taken: 04.02.2010
• Date Posted: 04.13.2010 16:38
• Story ID: 48094
• Location: GUANTANAMO BAY, CU