"My Strength is for Defending" walk draws crowd

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class DeAndre Curtiss
  • 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  More than 248,000 Americans reported sexual assault incidents in 2008, with 2,923 of those reports from U.S. military members. April is "Sexual Assault Awareness Month" and the Department of Defense's 2009 campaign is titled "My Strength is for Defending." 

Holloman Air Force Base's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response's office hosted the first annual "My Strength is for Defending" walk on April 17 to inform personnel about sexual assault. 

About 150 Holloman personnel participated in the mile-long walk, beginning at Heritage Park, down First Street to the main gate and back. The SAPR office also placed volunteers along the trail to hold signs showing sexual assault statistics to participants and standers-by. 

"The reason there is a 'Sexual Assault Awareness Month' and different types of events during April is to inform the men and women of Holloman and other communities about sexual assault issues," said Ms. Tracy Spencer, 49th Fighter Wing SARC. "We want to keep sexual assault prevention in the forefront of people's minds while we also inform all Team Holloman members of the trauma inflicted when an assault occurs." 

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz emphasized that concept when he addressed a gathering of vice wing commanders in Alexandria, Va., in November 2008. 

"We must foster a culture that actively rejects sexual assault and similar kinds of behavior," he said to the group. "This is not passive. We cannot just hope for the right outcome. This requires activism on all our parts. The message should be loud and clear that addressing sexual assault is a foremost and direct responsibility of commanders and a collective responsibility of our community of Airmen." 

The "My Strength is for Defending" campaign informs every service member it takes individual strength of character to do the right thing, challenge others to make the right choices and safely intervene when they see someone acting inappropriately, according to Ms. Spencer. 

Bystander intervention could involve directly confronting someone, suggesting they get a phone number and call back when the other person is sober. Or, it could involve something much more subtle - inviting them to join your group, or asking for a ride home. 

"Sexual assault is not just an Air Force issue or a military issue - it is a national and global issue," said Ms. Spencer. "The military is creating a culture of change and this culture of change can positively impact our nation and, ultimately, our world." 

For more information on the campaign, visit www.SAPR.mil or www.myduty.mil.