Training for Life

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Sondra Escutia
  • 49th Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  In observation of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the 49th Wing Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office hosted a free adult self-defense class April 13.

The class, called Training for Life, educated participants on multiple low-liability ways to avoid and escape a bad situation.

Tracey Spencer, 49th WG Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, said this class is an enjoyable, physical supplement to their primary sexual assault prevention training.

"The Sexual Assault Prevention classes we teach and also Bystander Intervention Training are the majority of our prevention," she said. "Ultimately attendees learn they have the power to stop a traumatic event from happening and learn about resources that can help with the process."

Aside from teaching Team Holloman a few easy-to-remember techniques, the main idea behind the self-defense course is to teach confidence.

"This basic course gives you confidence so you can handle yourself in any situation, and confidence brings success in all areas of your life," said Anna Scott, instructor with Overstreet TaeKwonDo Academy. "You feel better about yourself in general if you can take care of yourself."

Ms. Spencer agreed that confidence plays a significant role not only in avoidance, but also in intervening on someone else's behalf or in reaching out for help.

"Many people blame themselves when they are a victim of a crime, any crime. From having money stolen, 'Oh, I should have put my wallet in my front pocket', to being a victim of rape, 'I shouldn't have drank so much,'" she said. "This is something we as a society cannot do to ourselves or to others. The person who committed the crime, who chose to hurt someone else, is responsible for the crime."

The crime committed, especially in the case of sexual assault, effects more than just the victim, added Ms. Spencer, and that observation is recognized in this year's theme for SAAM -- "Hurts One, Effects All."

As one of the many resources to turn to in the case of an unrestricted sexual assault report, Holloman first sergeants know this theme to be true.

"In my experience with sexual assault as a first sergeant, I can tell you it has a tremendous impact on not only the people involved, but the mission and the unit as a whole," said Master Sgt. Donal Ruepp, 49th Materiel Maintenance Support Squadron first sergeant. "Not only does the victim have to deal with pain of the incident, but if the person accused of committing the sexual assault is also assigned to the same unit it can start to create a divide in the unit."

Another first sergeant agreed.

"How safe do you feel if one of your co-workers is assaulted? I know I wouldn't feel too safe. If we can't trust or depend on each other how can we function effectively? We can't," said Master Sgt. Monika Wagner, 49th Wing Staff first sergeant, who was in attendance for the self-defense class.

After attending the class herself, Sergeant Wagner said she'd recommend it to everyone as another tool on their belt to help avoid becoming a victim.

"Preventing sexual assault is everyone's job ... all of our wingmen should feel safe and have a feeling of well-being," she said. "Everyone plays a part in that."

For more information on sexual assault, prevention, reporting options or to see when the next self-defense class will be held, contact the SAPR Office at 575-572-1444. To report an assault at any time, contact the 24/7 Sexual Assault Response Hotline at 572-6789.