FORT JACKSON, SC - Top Army leaders have launched the second phase of their attack to wipe out sexual assault. Last year, there were 1,584 reported sexual assaults Army wide. That is a 4 percent increase from the previous year.
On Monday, Secretary of the Army Pete Geren addressed the "I. A.M. Strong" (the Army's campaign to combat sexual assaults) Sexual Harassment/Sexual Assault Prevention Summit in Arlington, Va. He told the audience that the goal is to erase sexual assault and sexual harassment from the Army.
"We've proven in so many other areas that we can distinguish ourselves from the rest of society, and this is going to be one of those examples that we're going to set for the nation," he said.
Eradicating sexual assault begins with education about what sexual assault is and how to prevent it. The "I. A.M. Strong" campaign encourages Soldiers to Intervene, Act and Motivate others to stop sexual assaults.
"The Army is taking sexual assault very seriously," said Lisa Magallanes, Fort Jackson's sexual assault response coordinator. "They investigate touching as a felony offense."
Sexual assault is defined as intentional sexual contact, characterized by use of force, physical threat or abuse of authority or when the victim does not or cannot consent.
"In our training, we stress over and over the meaning of consent. It's more than the victim failing to offer physical resistance," Magallanes explained. "As an example, when a person is drunk the person cannot consent. We use real-life scenarios, such as what to do if you are out at a club, to teach the Soldiers to intervene when they see their fellow Soldiers in risky situations that can lead to sexual assault."
Currently, Basic Combat Training Soldiers receive three periods of training on what is sexual assault, and how to prevent it. The first training is given while they are at the 120th Adjutant General Battalion (Reception), and the other two sessions during the red and blue phases of BCT. Advanced Individual Training Soldiers also receive sexual assault prevention training.
"In addition to teaching the Soldiers what sexual assault is and what steps they can take to prevent it, we also let them know what their options for reporting it are," Magallanes said. "It's important that Soldiers know that they can report sexual assault and be treated with fairness, dignity and respect."
Soldiers have two reporting options -- restricted and unrestricted.
Unrestricted reporting is for victims who want medical treatment, counseling and an official investigation of the crime. Unrestricted reports are processed through the chain of command, law enforcement, the SARC or health care providers who notify law enforcement.
Restricted reporting is for victims who want to confidentially receive medical treatment and counseling without triggering an official investigation. When using the restricted reporting option, Soldiers "must" report the assault to a SARC, a victim's advocate, a health-care provider or chaplain.
There are exceptions to the restricted reporting option.
"If there is an imminent threat to the victim, or to others, then I would have to bring in law enforcement and the chain of command," Magallanes said.
To learn more about the Army's effort to prevent sexual assault, visit the prevention campaign Web site at www.preventsexualassault.army.mil.
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