Airmen 'Jump into Prevention'

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class David Tracy
  • 9th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs
BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) --  Airmen and civilians gathered April 30 at Lincoln Regional Airport, Calif.  to sky dive as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

The event, titled Jump into Prevention, gave 38 people the chance to sky dive while raising awareness about sexual assault.

The idea came about more than 10 years ago when a victim of sexual assault decided that she didn't want to live in fear anymore. On the anniversary of her assault, she and some friends conquered their fear of heights by sky diving. This sparked similar events across the nation in the years to follow.

Jump into Prevention was coordinated by Beale Air Force Base's Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, Dr. Michael Stacy.

Dr. Stacy said he does not believe that any other bases in the nation currently have a sky diving event to raise awareness for sexual assault, although many civilian organizations do.

"Hundreds, if not thousands of people across the nation go out and sky dive in the month of April to raise awareness for sexual assault prevention," Doctor Stacy said. "We came up with our own program right here at Beale (AFB)."

This is the second year that Beale AFB Airmen, family members and Department of Defense civilians have participatied in the event.

The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office gave participants T-shirts, certificates and SAPRO coins for having the courage to leap out of the plane at 14,000 feet.

"I did not hear a single person say 'I wish I did not do that,'" Doctor Stacy said. "Now they get to go around and talk it up on base, raising awareness of our program. That's what it's all about."

Senior Airman Corey Dodge, a 9th Operations Support Squadron air traffic controller, said he would do it again in a heartbeat.

"My ears really hurt, but it was worth it," Airman Dodge said.

The SARC already has a plan in place to increase participation for next year's jump.

"What I'm telling people now is to put aside 10 to 12 dollars a month and next year they'll be able to do it," Doctor Stacy said.

In addition to Jump into Prevention, the SAPRO also held other events in April including a comedic, educational play titled "Sex Signals" to teach Airmen about different situations that can be considered sexual assault.