JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
Military members who have survived a sexual assault have to deal with emotional and physical scars and feelings of shame and powerlessness that come after the assault.
Dealing with the repercussions of sexual assault or harassment can make survivors feel isolated and alone with no one to trust or turn to. Three Joint Base San Antonio military members who have survived sexual assaults are hoping to instill change by coming forward and telling their stories.
The three survivors, Master Sgt. Nicole Hicks, Air Force Personnel Center mission support assignments NCO in charge at JBSA-Randolph; Chief Master Sgt. Katie McCool, 323rd Training Squadron superintendent at JBSA-Lackland; and Capt. Jacqueline Just, chief admissions and dispositions at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, are working with staff members from the JBSA Sexual Assault and Prevention Response Program and are using their voices to advocate and help members throughout JBSA.
The SAPR program focuses on raising awareness and sexual assault prevention in the military, while providing services and support for sexual assault survivors.
Even before she entered the Air Force, Hicks experienced the traumatic effects of sexual assault. Her assault occurred when she was a teenager and for years, Hicks said, she blamed herself for not doing enough to stop the assault.
When Hicks encountered sexual harassment on several occasions as an Airman, she decided she had enough and stood up for herself and reported each of the incidents.
"I came forward to let folks know there are ways to say, 'Hey, that's not appropriate. You can't talk to me that way,'" Hicks said. "I've been told, 'Sgt. Hicks, because of your story, it makes it okay for me to come forward.'"
Inspired to help other military members who have been sexually assaulted or sexually harassed, Hicks became a certified SAPR victim advocate. As a victim advocate, Hicks provides support and helps find resources for survivors of sexual assault.
Hicks said being a victim advocate allows her to reach out to survivors of sexual assault who may feel helpless and have no one else to turn to.
"It's basically helping those who need to regain that strength and power and let them know they are not alone," she said. "You are not just a number; you are not just a statistic. You are important, you matter."
McCool said she had no intention of coming forward with her survivor story until after the NCO who had assaulted her was convicted and sentenced at a military trial at JBSA-Lackland.
"I don't think I can stop sexual assault from happening," McCool said. "But if I'm not willing to talk about it, then I can't even come close to being of help to be part of the solution."
McCool said she hopes her survivor story will lead to an honest conversation about sexual assault, which includes not pinning the blame on the survivor.
"I hope that people will start having real conversations about sexual assault," she said. "Sexual assault occurs in many different ways to many different people. "There are predators that you would not expect or suspect."
"In my case, a lot of people were saying, 'No way, he could never have done that,'" she said. "He had multiple victims spanning many years."
McCool said the military has taken steps to make it easier for service members who have been sexually assaulted or harassed to come forward and get the help needed.
"The Air Force is working to ensure victims aren't being ostracized and that when a victim comes forward the leadership chain protects the victim throughout the process," she said.
Just spoke at the Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month proclamation signing ceremony in April at the Medical Education and Training Campus Academic Center at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston.
At the ceremony, Just told the audience that she had reported her commander at her last duty station for sexually assaulting her and her friend. Just said she is sharing her story to encourage other survivors of sexual assault to come forward.
"It's important that survivors know to get help, you can't do this alone," Just said. "I know I couldn't. If you don't get help, you won't be able to function in your unit."
Just credits the SAPR program for connecting her to mental health professionals who helped her overcome the depression and anxiety she felt after her assault.
"I want them to take away that justice does prevail and that help is a phone call away," she said. "While the road may not be easy, the joy at the end of the journey comes with the conviction, and hopefully they get it."
Hicks, McCool and Just were provided a survivors' flight in a T-1 Jayhawk by the 12th Flying Training Wing at JBSA-Randolph May 1. "Soaring Over The Storm: The Survivor's Story," was the theme for the flight.
Lt. Col. David Leazer, 12th Operations Group deputy commander, said the survivors' flight came about in a discussion between him and Bernadette Villa-Morris, JBSA-Randolph SAPR victim advocate.
Leazer said the flight was a way to show solidarity for sexual assault survivors.
Participating in the survivors' flight had a symbolic meaning for Just.
"I'm soaring above the problems I had last year," she said. "I'm soaring above the sadness; I'm soaring above the setbacks. I look at this flight as taking me to a new destination this year."
Any military member who has experienced sexual assault or harassment can speak confidentially to their sexual assault response coordinator, victim advocate, chaplain or medical professional.
To report a sexual assault or speak confidentially to a victim advocate, call the JBSA SAPR 24-hour hotline at 210-808-7272.
For more information, call the JBSA-Randolph SARC office at 652-4386, the JBSA-Lackland office at 671-7273 or the JBSA-Fort Sam Houston office at 808-8990.