While we were at the confinement facility, I also thought a lot about the consequences of one's actions. Many people fail to think of the consequences when putting themselves in situations that could easily land them in trouble. As the shackles were being placed on the actor and as I looked around at the inmates, I realized how one mistake could change your life for the worst. At this point I began to understand the importance of this project. This video could save someone from becoming an offender or a victim. It could also give someone the courage to speak out against sexual assault and stop a situation from escalating.
Being a part of this project makes me feel like I can actually make a difference. Until now, I haven't felt able to make a difference in the Air Force. It seemed to me that oftentimes an Airman's opinions and ideas are often overlooked. This project shed a new light on my perception of the power of an Airman's voice. We, as a group of Airmen, thought this project out and played a major role in seeing it through. We made it happen. Airmen can make a change.
It also taught me a great deal. Though familiar with the subject of sexual assault, I wasn't fully aware of how big of an issue it is, certainly not how often it happens, and how it affects so many people even long after it takes place.
The project intrigued me to do a bit of research on the subject. I read in a Pentagon health survey from 2011 that "one out of five military women say they were victims of unwanted sexual contact by another service member since joining the military." I believe that making a few people aware is the first step to making many aware and eventually stopping this terrible act.
I encourage Airmen to influence other Airmen to help eliminate sexual assault by taking ownership and responsibility for solutions within their peer groups.
My hope is that after seeing the consequences of sexual assault as portrayed in the video, Airmen will think twice before putting themselves in a similar situation. I also hope that if the occasion arises, Airman will be more inclined to help Airmen in need or stop another Airmen from committing a terrible act. I trust that my fellow Airmen will be good wingmen and take what they have learned from
our video to deter a sexual assault.