April is sexual assault awareness month

  • Published
  • By Lisa Thomas
  • 934th Sexual Assault Response Coordinator
Minneapolis, St. Paul --  Did you ever observe a situation that caused you concern or made you feel uncomfortable and you didn't know what to do? Did you want to help but didn't, and later regretted it? Maybe you weren't sure there was a problem or you figured somebody else would take care of it. This situation is more common than you thought and is called "The Bystander Effect".

When it comes to sexual assault we want to be a "pro-social bystander". This means we will be the person to intervene when we see a fellow Airman in a potentially dangerous situation. When it comes to sexual assault, Airmen have a responsibility to look out for each other. It is up to us to recognize when a fellow airman needs help and to step in.
April marks the Department of Defense's sixth observance of National Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This observance was designated to address an important concern in our ranks - the reduction of sexual assault of service personnel. The 934th Airlift Wing has a no-tolerance policy towards sexual assault.

It is no secret how damaging sexual assault can be to a victim. However, the damage goes way beyond the victim, affecting a unit and beyond, degrading readiness and the military's ability to work effectively as a team. This year's focus is on the power of the bystander and the belief that when we all get involved, we can reduce the number of sexual assaults.
SARC 24-Hour Hotline 612-919-1673