Edwards Airmen vow to “Strike Out” sexual assault

The Edwards Air Force Base Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Coordinators hosted a bowling tournament to “Strike Out Sexual Assault” at the High Desert Bowling Lanes on Edwards Air Force Base, California, Oct. 12.

The objective of the tournament was to raise awareness for sexual assault and highlight the role of the SARC program said Ebony Graves, SAPR Victim Advocate.

“The intention was to raise awareness for sexual assault and domestic violence,” Graves said. “I thought it was phenomenal. I think we’re going in a good direction with commanders and the SAPR, letting their people know that they are there to support them.

“SAPR is a commander’s program, it can only be as successful as the commander allows. If people in their unit don’t feel like they can go to their commander, then it’s not going to work, but luckily we have commanders on base that do support their victims, and that makes people who have been sexually assaulted want to come forward knowing that they have the command’s support,” Graves said.

Prior to the bowling tournament, members of the 412th Security Forces Squadron participated in work shop highlighting strangulation. They were trained on strangulation and how it pertains to domestic violence. Security Forces Airmen learned how to spot strangulation as a tell-tale sign of domestic abuse, said Maj. Gilbert Wyche, 412th SFS commander.

“There’s no room for domestic abuse and sexual assault in the Air Force,” Wyche said. “It’s good to show support for the cause here, it shows that support one another.”

The specialized training session and the bowling event highlights the 412th Test Wing’s commitment to stamp out abusive behavior within the Air Force, said Chief Master Sgt.  Roosevelt Jones, 412th Test Wing command chief master sergeant. He said the command, along with the SAPR program, is leading the charge in the fight against sexual assault.

“First and foremost, it’s always important to lead from the front,” Jones said. “In order for the individuals within the Wing and within the Air Force to understand how important it is to stamp out sexual assaults, we have to lead from the front. We have to be the people that’s supporting the SAPR program, and making sure our face and our presence is visible at these events.”

Jones, along with other senior leadership praised the SAPR program for putting together the event and the turn out. He said the turnout is a good sign of the open relationship between leadership, noncommissioned officers and junior Airmen.

“It was a great turn out,” Jones said. “What that tells me is that this cause is not just important to the leadership of the Wing, but it’s also important to the different groups, especially when I see so many young Airmen and NCOs. It tells me that we have an outstanding climate in getting after sexual assaults, not only on our base, but as some of these individuals continue on to other bases, that they can also continue on that mentality that sexual assaults will not be tolerated in the United States Air Force.

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