SAPR down day: Combatting sexual assault

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Joel Pfiester
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  "A year ago I had no idea that I would be standing here in front of you guys," said Robert McDaniel Sr. "This is something that our family never thought we would experience."

These were the words spoken by the father of a sexual assault victim before the 5K Race for Respect at Whiteman Air Force Base Apr. 25, 2014.

The race was part of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response stand-down day that was focused on helping victims of sexual assault overcome the challenges they face, helping Airmen and civilians recognize negative behaviors offenders might display, and instructing Team Whiteman on creating healthy and respectful work environments.

Before the race, McDaniel offered insight on his families experience with sexual assault.

"It was the hardest time in my life," McDaniel said. "I've had a bunch of near-death experiences but I've never experienced anything like this."

McDaniel went on to explain how his family overcame the turmoil that was left in the wake of their experience.

"Basically we had to make a decision," McDaniel said. "Are we going to get busy living or are we going to get busy dying? There's light at the end of the tunnel. It may not seem like it, but there is."

Following the 5K, the duty day commenced with a commander's call followed by small and large group discussions led by trained unit facilitators.

"Today has been dedicated to focusing our attention on working to rid sexual assault from our Air Force," said Amy Creighton, a victim advocate at the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response office at Whiteman.

Participation in the SAPR stand-down day training was required for all enlisted Airmen, officers and Department of Defense civilians.

The group discussions encouraged members to engage in conversation to help individuals better understand how sexual offenders operate and different ways to prevent sexual assault.

According to Staff Sgt. Hollie Darling, one of the small-group facilitators for the 509th Bomb Wing, sexual assault is a problem that is all too common in the Air Force, and Airmen must realize this in order to prevent assaults.

"SAPR Day is an important event for Whiteman and the Air Force because sexual assault is an extensive problem in our Air Force and we need our fellow Airmen to understand this so that we may all help in preventing further sexual assaults," Darling said. "We should be taking care of our fellow Airmen, not hurting them."

The goal of SAPR Day was to provide Airmen with tools for preventing sexual assault, and to encourage them to help keep their fellow Airmen and their work environments safe, because without that safety, the overall Air Force mission is hindered.

"I do feel like the small group discussions and SAPR Day were a great success," Darling said. "We sometimes forget that this issue is real and it happens every day and these SAPR days allow us to remember and become involved in helping each other."