Holloman hosts Sexual Assault Response training for civilian agencies

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Randahl J. Jenson
  • 49th Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Holloman, along with several military agencies, held sexual assault response training for local civilian agencies at the Presbyterian Medical Services Behavior Health Office in Alamogordo, New Mexico on Nov. 10.

"What we're doing is coming in and training civilian agencies on the military's Sexual Assault Response processes and procedures so that we can have a partnership with the community to be able to respond to sexual assault," said Tracey Spencer, the Sexual Assault Response coordinator at Holloman. "Our primary goal is to take care of victims."

Training local responders is critical to achieve a unified response to sexual assault.

"Any agency that could potentially come into contact with a victim or is a part of the process is represented in the audience," said Lt. Col. R. Mina Gawaran, a staff judge advocate at Holloman. "They are our community partners, and it's very important that we educate them."

By educating community agencies, military and civilian personnel can coordinate their efforts in responding to sexual assault. One such agency is the office of the Staff Judge Advocate.

"We help the victims of sexual crimes by referring them to resources they need," said Capt. Amanda Barreto, an assistant judge advocate at Holloman. "It feels good to have a positive impact on someone. It can make an impossible experience seem bearable. No one asks to be the victim of a crime."

Victims of sexual crimes can contact the Holloman Sexual Assault Response Coordinator at (575) 572-6789.