HUNTER ARMY AIRFIELD, Ga. – April is sexual assault awareness month. Not just in the Army, but in the entire United States of America. So fittingly, the Soldiers and Families of the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade gathered for a day set aside to end sexual assault and sexual harassment.
The Falcon brigade and Family members took part in Operation United in Trust, the 3rd CAB’s Sexual Harassment and Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) awareness faire on Hunter Army Airfield April 21.
Sgt. 1st Class Lakeysha Nickerson, sexual assault response coordinator along with Joyce Moore, civilian victim advocate, make up part of the SHARP team for the 3rd CAB and were also the event planners.
“We are having live skits, puppet shows, and bounce houses for the kids and Family members so that we can let them know that they are welcome and we are here for them as well,” Nickerson said.
The day started off with a brigade run around the airfield where all Family and furry Family members (dogs) were invited to take part. After that, the airfield came alive as the Soldiers and Family members enjoyed the food, fun and fellowship.
One of the actors in the skits designed to mitigate risk and raise awareness about what sexual harassment looks like was Sgt. 1st Class Ronnie McNeal, Headquarters Support Company, 603rd Aviation Support Battalion. McNeal is also the battalion sexual assault response coordinator for the 603rd ASB.
“We are putting on these skits for all of the battalions to help them mitigate the risk of sexual assault. What we mean by mitigating the risk is if you see something, say something. If someone sees something and then tells someone then perhaps we can prevent a sexual assault,” McNeal said.
This was the first time that anyone could remember the Families of the 3rd CAB being invited to attend a SHARP event.
“I met with Col. [Jeffrey A.] Becker, commander, 3rd CAB to discuss what we wanted to do with the event. He is a great visionary. He wanted to do an event where we could engage Family members of the Soldiers and give them a look at the services we provide not just for the Soldiers but for the Families as well,” Moore said.
Moore explained that Operation United in Trust, or OUT was conceived and it stood for getting sexual harassment and assault out of our unit and out of the Army. Moore has an enthusiasm and conviction for doing her job and it shows.
“It comes from my heart,” Moore said. “I have a love for Soldiers and I love what I do. I love serving people.”