1 00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:03,342 When I became your secretary nearly two 2 00:00:03,342 --> 00:00:05,287 years ago , we took up the guiding 3 00:00:05,287 --> 00:00:07,287 principle of one team , one fight , 4 00:00:07,287 --> 00:00:09,176 which calls for one cohesive team 5 00:00:09,176 --> 00:00:11,231 composed of our airmen guardians and 6 00:00:11,231 --> 00:00:13,342 civilian teammates focused on the one 7 00:00:13,342 --> 00:00:15,342 fight of providing the security and 8 00:00:15,342 --> 00:00:17,809 defense for our nation . The pillars of 9 00:00:17,819 --> 00:00:19,875 mutual respect among teammates and a 10 00:00:19,875 --> 00:00:21,930 positive culture focused on fair and 11 00:00:21,940 --> 00:00:23,773 equitable treatment , make for a 12 00:00:23,773 --> 00:00:26,729 cohesive team . However , it is clear , 13 00:00:26,739 --> 00:00:28,961 our aspirational vision is not matching 14 00:00:28,961 --> 00:00:31,183 our reality . Sexual assault and sexual 15 00:00:31,183 --> 00:00:33,406 harassment continue to occur within our 16 00:00:33,406 --> 00:00:35,560 team , taking a painful toll on those 17 00:00:35,569 --> 00:00:37,347 who are targeted and negatively 18 00:00:37,347 --> 00:00:41,229 impacting our readiness in F Y 2022 19 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:43,518 across the Department of the Air Force . 20 00:00:43,518 --> 00:00:45,407 There were nearly 2000 reports of 21 00:00:45,407 --> 00:00:47,869 sexual assault . These numbers only 22 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:49,936 represent the survivors who took the 23 00:00:49,936 --> 00:00:51,547 step to file a restricted or 24 00:00:51,547 --> 00:00:54,419 unrestricted report . This is simply 25 00:00:54,430 --> 00:00:57,369 unacceptable . I've met with survivors 26 00:00:57,380 --> 00:00:59,547 and I've listened to their experiences 27 00:00:59,547 --> 00:01:02,310 in excruciating detail . I've listened 28 00:01:02,319 --> 00:01:04,319 as they've shared how they grappled 29 00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:06,486 with the decision report wondering how 30 00:01:06,486 --> 00:01:08,708 taking that important step could impact 31 00:01:08,708 --> 00:01:11,410 their own lives and careers . These 32 00:01:11,419 --> 00:01:13,641 private meetings have provided valuable 33 00:01:13,641 --> 00:01:16,050 insights . First , there are some of us 34 00:01:16,059 --> 00:01:17,726 who failed to acknowledge the 35 00:01:17,726 --> 00:01:19,337 prevalence , persistence and 36 00:01:19,337 --> 00:01:21,449 seriousness of the problems of sexual 37 00:01:21,459 --> 00:01:24,699 assault and sexual harassment . Second , 38 00:01:25,010 --> 00:01:27,769 culture sets and reinforces values and 39 00:01:27,779 --> 00:01:29,668 determines what is acceptable and 40 00:01:29,668 --> 00:01:32,760 unacceptable behavior . Those of us in 41 00:01:32,769 --> 00:01:34,936 leadership roles , either establish or 42 00:01:34,936 --> 00:01:38,000 accept the culture in our units . What 43 00:01:38,010 --> 00:01:40,010 we must remember is that we are all 44 00:01:40,010 --> 00:01:42,177 leaders and our actions perpetuate our 45 00:01:42,177 --> 00:01:45,199 cultures . A positive culture does not 46 00:01:45,209 --> 00:01:47,376 tolerate sexual assault and harassment 47 00:01:47,376 --> 00:01:49,376 or the behaviors that encourage and 48 00:01:49,376 --> 00:01:52,120 enable it . Let me repeat my call from 49 00:01:52,129 --> 00:01:53,851 the September , a fa meeting , 50 00:01:54,330 --> 00:01:56,052 eradicating sexual assault and 51 00:01:56,052 --> 00:01:57,941 harassment and creating a command 52 00:01:57,941 --> 00:01:59,608 climate in which no one feels 53 00:01:59,608 --> 00:02:01,719 disrespected or unsafe is a commander 54 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:03,870 and leaders core responsibility . 55 00:02:05,449 --> 00:02:07,505 Third , the survivors who are in our 56 00:02:07,505 --> 00:02:09,616 team need us to start from a point of 57 00:02:09,616 --> 00:02:11,671 compassion and support when a crisis 58 00:02:11,671 --> 00:02:14,979 occurs . Sexual assault is traumatizing 59 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:17,440 reporting . It should not be and that 60 00:02:17,449 --> 00:02:20,139 depends on the rest of us . Our words 61 00:02:20,149 --> 00:02:22,260 in our day to day action set the tone 62 00:02:22,260 --> 00:02:24,316 that will allow us to prevent sexual 63 00:02:24,316 --> 00:02:26,610 assault , what we do and how we react 64 00:02:26,619 --> 00:02:28,919 during these crises weigh heavily when 65 00:02:28,929 --> 00:02:30,873 a teammate is in a deeply personal 66 00:02:30,873 --> 00:02:33,300 crisis . These thoughts have been on my 67 00:02:33,309 --> 00:02:35,420 mind for some time and I want to make 68 00:02:35,420 --> 00:02:37,420 sure you think about them as well . 69 00:02:37,420 --> 00:02:39,531 More importantly , we need everyone's 70 00:02:39,531 --> 00:02:42,020 efforts to improve on our one team and 71 00:02:42,029 --> 00:02:44,140 drive us closer to the values that we 72 00:02:44,140 --> 00:02:46,440 all hold dear . Sexual assault and 73 00:02:46,449 --> 00:02:48,116 sexual harassment will not be 74 00:02:48,116 --> 00:02:50,116 eradicated through a sharply worded 75 00:02:50,116 --> 00:02:52,250 memo or even this video message , we 76 00:02:52,259 --> 00:02:54,481 will only make meaningful progress when 77 00:02:54,481 --> 00:02:56,380 all leaders own our role in 78 00:02:56,389 --> 00:02:58,167 establishing positive culture , 79 00:02:58,589 --> 00:03:00,720 offering compassionate response and 80 00:03:00,729 --> 00:03:02,673 setting the standard for others to 81 00:03:02,673 --> 00:03:04,899 follow . I know we can reach these 82 00:03:04,910 --> 00:03:07,279 goals and take these actions . We must 83 00:03:07,289 --> 00:03:09,539 commit ourselves to this obligation for 84 00:03:09,550 --> 00:03:11,772 the well being of our teammates and our 85 00:03:11,772 --> 00:03:14,199 one team , the standard we all set 86 00:03:14,210 --> 00:03:16,210 isn't defined by our words . It's 87 00:03:16,220 --> 00:03:18,360 defined by the conduct that we accept .