FORT DRUM, N.Y.- Several high-profile sexual assault and sexual harassment incidents that have occurred across the U.S. military services has reinforced the need to bolster ongoing preventative training and comprehensive, compassionate advocacy for the survivors of these crimes.
The sexual harassment and assault response program was initially implemented in 2008 and has been evolving continuously ever since. Not surprisingly, these incidents have prompted even more changes to grow its capacity to meet the challenges resulting from these incidents.
"The Secretary of Defense has mandated seven new initiatives in August that will have to be implemented in the coming months," said Sgt. 1st Class Kristina Smith, the sexual harassment and assault response program representative for the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, "As that guidance comes down, there are going to be some changes."
The changes, of which more information is still forthcoming, will augment what is already a thorough, multi-level program encompassing teams of soldiers, counselors, law enforcement agencies, chaplains and health-care providers. All of them working together seamlessly to deliver the care and services victims need. The delivery of that care and those services is something everyone involved in the program is personally committed to, including Sgt. 1st Class Smith, who along with Sgt 1st Class Joe Gossett trains unit victim advocates for her brigade.
"It is imperative that our survivors of sexual assault and harassment receive the utmost care and attention," said Smith, "We are committed to providing them with the most well trained and highly motivated victim advocates we can."
Smith and Gossett recently organized the first day of what will be an ongoing monthly training event for the unit victim advocates. It began with a rigorous four mile rucksack march meant to symbolize the difficult path to recovery all sexual-assault survivors face. The rucksack march was followed by classes, discussions and lectures by guest speakers representing different agencies post-wide.
In addition to the training that Smith and Gossett conduct for the unit advocates, Smith has also developed a variety of innovative products for the 3rd Brigade's sexual harassment and assault program such as an in-depth, one-on-one questionnaire, a daily observation checklist and instructional guidance for soldiers performing duty as charge of quarters in unit barracks, all in an effort to improve their program's effectiveness.
One of a unit advocate's primary responsibilities is to assist victims through the reporting process to initiate the survivor's path to recovery. Regardless of how they choose to go about reporting the incident, every effort is made to assure the victim that all available measures will be taken to help them recover and to make informed decisions regarding their care options.
Soldiers and military dependents who are victims of a sexual-assault or harassment have two reporting options to choose from, restricted and unrestricted. The restricted reporting process is normally used by victims wanting the greatest degree of confidentiality. Under this reporting method, the victims can disclose the crime only to those individuals they choose, receive any necessary medical treatment and even to talk to a chaplain if they choose to do so, all without initiating the official investigative process. The unrestricted reporting method is for those victims who along with medical care and counseling also desire an official investigation to find the perpetrator to hold them accountable.
When a sexual assault occurs, delivering critically needed health care is among the first priorities. Specialized care is provided by the sexual assault medical forensic examiner. This medical professional is normally a registered nurse, nurse practitioner, physician or physician's aide who provides services such as treatment for potential exposure to sexually transmitted diseases, emergency contraception and HIV preventative measures as well as other services. They can also provide critical emotional support.
"We also serve as a member of the team by assuring survivors have ongoing advocacy, ongoing medical support and referral to any other appropriate services," said Florence Hare, the Fort Drum sexual assault medical forensic examiner, "In performing our role, we can begin to return the power, control and dignity to the victim that the perpetrator took away."
With recent advances in technology, other forms of training and assistance are being fielded. The Department of Defense has launched a mobile phone application called the DoD Safe Helpline that provides on-the-go access to educational and preventative resources, as well as access to immediate assistance in the event of a sexual-assault. It is available 24 hours a day and it is completely anonymous and confidential. Users can call, chat, text requests for help or information. They can also use the application to connect to live sexual assault response professionals. The application is free and available for download from the Apple and Android app stores. The Department of Defense administers Safe Helpline via a contract with the non-profit Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization.
The Army has made it abundantly clear since the inception of its first programs to combat sexual-assault and sexual-harassment within its ranks that it is serious about reducing the stigma of reporting offenders and increasing its preventative, investigative and prosecutorial capabilities.
The Army has also made every effort to remind soldiers and leaders at every level that they should take the issue personally and that any such incident is one too many.
"Every soldier should see sexual assault as a personal issue, an issue that he or she needs to be involved in," said Lt. Gen. Howard B. Bromberg, the former Forces Command deputy commander, during a Pentagon ceremony launching the sexual assault awareness and prevention month earlier this year, "This culture must have consistency from basic training to the halls of the Pentagon. We simply cannot have soldiers preying on each other because this rips apart the bonds of trust that hold our Army together in both war and at peace."
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