New sexual assault response program created at Sheppard AFB

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Valerie Hosea
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) --  A program is now in place that gives Airmen in Training here a bigger role in sexual assault prevention and response.

Officials with the 82nd Training Wing Sexual Assault Response Coordinator office recently created the Air Force's first student advocate program. Students against Sexual Assault and Harassment, or SASH, calls for Airmen in Training to volunteer to become SARC representatives for their squadrons. This will make it easier for sexual assault victims to come forward.

So far, there are 23 AiT in the SASH program, many of whom have volunteered for different reasons. 

Airman Katherine McKenna, a 383rd Training Squadron student said she joined because she understands the feeling of comfort that comes with confiding in her peers.

"I know what it feels like to need and want to talk to someone you're comfortable with," she said. "That's what SASH is all about. AiTs talk to us about their incident and we help them get the help they need at that time.

"It is a good program that can be great if enough people are involved in it," Airman McKenna said.

Capt. Jaimie Gallego, SARC assistant, said AiTs typically are more comfortable talking to a roommate, classmate or another wingman. But it also means an incident has to be reported up the chain.

"This will immediately cancel the victim's choice to file a restricted or unrestricted report. The incident automatically becomes unrestricted, meaning certain people in that command will know about it," she said. "Having SASH members in the squadrons will allow the victim to be able to confide in their peers without worrying about their leadership knowing what happened."

SASH members are actively working to get a tangible symbol to wear on their uniform and on civilian clothing so that victims will know exactly who they can turn to in their time of need.

"We're hoping to get a rope or a pin to wear," Airman McKenna said. "That way, victims will know who we are and won't have to go around the squadron asking people, 'who's the SASH?' which would automatically let people know that something happened to that individual."