Task force seeks sexual assault response feedback

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Danielle Johnson
  • 87th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. (AFNS) --  Members of the Defense Task Force on Sexual Assault in the Military Services visited Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst recently to speak with base leaders, sexual assault response coordinators and other base personnel.

The task force, which was chartered by Congress to look at sexual assault response programs in the military services and make recommendations on how these programs can be improved, visited the base to take a look at the unique challenges faced at the first tri-service joint base.

"We came here because we expect it to be challenging," said Navy Capt. Donald Henry, task force member and assistant chief of staff for intelligence. "We're interested not only in how the installation is combined and what decisions are made, but also what options were considered and not used to see if we might be able to make recommendations."

"In many ways, (Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst) is a great example for us to learn from because we are able to talk with people about what it is they're thinking," said Millicent Wasell, task force co-chair. "It's also interesting to see the three bases' merged approach to sexual assault."

"We've seen tremendously committed people who are working hard on (the sexual assault response program) and are committed to maintain its effectiveness as the base is vigilant," she said. "The commitment that people have is just so evident, it's very positive."

Since Aug. 11, 2008, the task force, which grew out of a previous task force established to look at sexual assault and sexual harassment at the military academies, has been looking at various military installations to collect information about how the services' sexual assault response programs are performing. 

The task force members, who include civilian experts and representatives from each of the military branches, will continue to interview individuals and conduct focus groups to determine what improvements can be made to current sexual assault response and prevention programs.

The task force, which is scheduled to present its report to Congress in August, is evaluating the effectiveness of sexual assault response programs at installations around the world, which is challenging for a number of reasons.

"It's a little hard in this area to get metrics because this is an underreported crime," said Captain Henry. "We might put a program in place that informs people about reporting options, that this is in fact a crime and that help is available, and you may get an increase in reports. So you're sitting there wondering, 'Is that increase in reports because they're more welcome to the victims, or is it an underlying increase in incidents?'

"It's easy for us to evaluate if the program that DOD has mandated is in place ... It's real hard to say if the program that's in place is effective," the captain said.

According to the task force members, an additional challenge is the generation gap between program decision-makers and the age demographic most affected by sexual assault in the military.

"This is a problem which predominantly occurs in the military among 18- to 25-year-olds," said Captain Henry. "The whole task force is out of that age range. So we're looking at cultural effects and also new technological ways of learning and doing things. How do we reach a new generation of Sailors, Airmen, Soldiers and Marines in ways that are generationally appropriate and effective when old people like us are trying to make the decisions? How do we reach a new generation of military members as they're coming in with different cultural values than we grew up with?"

Overall, the task force has seen that many sexual assault response programs are becoming well-established.

"We're struggling with how to measure it, but we feel positive about what we've seen, about things beginning to be in place," Ms. Wasell said. "I tend not to put a value judgment on what we're seeing as we go along because it's not a 'good or bad'. It's really 'what have we been able to put in place?' and 'how can we pass along from that to help other people?' We are in a situation where we see that the programs have been building and becoming more and more institutionalized."

According to Captain Henry, one positive finding so far has been in the military programs' response to reports of sexual assaults.

"Generally, when someone comes forward and says 'I've been sexually assaulted, I need help,' we're in a pretty good position to help the victim," he said. "So once the crime has already occurred, the response is there."

He added that the challenge is to determine how to prevent assaults from happening to begin with and also how to improve accountability and prosecution of offenders. 

Ms. Wasell said that the overall objective is to eradicate sexual assault in the military. To do that may require a gradual culture change over the coming years.

"I think if you look historically at drunken driving or racial discrimination in the military, that used to be something very widespread in the military, and they're not completely eradicated now but they're unusual and shocking," Captain Henry said. "We'd like to see an attitude change on sexual assault, and we need the tools to show us how to do that."

To help make its recommendations, the task force is seeking feedback from anyone with information relative to sexual assault in the military.

"We're trying to be as encompassing as we can," said Michael Molnar, task force deputy director. "If something happened to you on active-duty, then that's what we're looking for. If something happened to you on active duty and you're no longer there, we'll listen to that, too." 

Captain Henry said they're looking primarily yfor feedback from 2005 on.

"The ideal feedback is from someone who was a victim after 2005 (when military sexual assault response programs were established)," he said, "whose case and investigation is complete, who can tell us 'here's what happened to me, here's how my command reacted, here is how the sexual assault response program reacted, here's how law enforcement reacted.' Unfortunately, not a lot of people are willing to come forward."

The task force is looking for military members, or the parents of a military member, who were satisfied, dissatisfied or only partly satisfied with the program response in their case. They also welcome input from civilian experts or anyone with professional experience in the field of sexual assault response who may have best practices or good ideas that may be effective in the military programs.

"It's a daunting task," said Mr. Molnar. "Sexual assault is a crime against a (a fellow servicemember), so anything we can do to help prevent that is exactly worthwhile and so that's what we're trying to do."

More information about the Defense Task Force on Sexual Assault in the Military Services is available online at www.dtic.mil/dtfsams or by phone at (888) 325-6640.

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