JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
Twenty-five volunteers from Joint Base San Antonio locations underwent training to become advocates for the JBSA Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program and sexual assault survivors June 20-24 at the JBSA-Fort Sam Houston SAPR Office.
The volunteers participated in 40 hours of class sessions, including topics about sexual assault and prevention and role-playing exercises.
Daniel Katka, JBSA SAPR community relations director, said the training is required by the Department of Defense for active-duty service members and DOD civilians who volunteer to become victim advocates in the SAPR program and for JBSA SAPR community advocates. Once they complete the training, a service member or civilian will apply to the DOD to become a certified victim advocate.
A victim advocate provides support to survivors of sexual assault, including referring the survivors to medical, mental health, chaplain, legal services and law enforcement authorities who can help as necessary. Also, the victim advocate can help survivors explore their legal options, including how to report the assault to law enforcement authorities or Office of Special Investigations if they wish to.
Through the JBSA SAPR hotline, a victim advocate is on call 24 hours, seven days a week, who can be dispatched to go provide support to survivors of sexual assault.
Katka said a victim advocate can accompany and provide moral support to sexual assault survivors when they are being interviewed by law enforcement or OSI authorities and during medical examinations and appointments.
“We give complete empowerment to the survivor as to how much or how little they want us involved,” Katka said. “We are a support agent; we are a friend.”
A community advocate informs, educates and trains active-duty and JBSA members about the SAPR program at commander’s calls, staff meetings, squadron picnics, unit meetings and other events they are invited to. Community advocates emphasize awareness, education and prevention of sexual assault and keep unit leaders informed on updates in the SAPR program.
Mitch Hanson, JBSA SAPR advocate programs director, said there are 65 volunteer advocates in the JBSA SAPR program, with 27 serving as victim advocates, 13 as community advocates and 25 serving in both roles.
Tech. Sgt. Tiana Johnson, 25th Air Force intelligence analyst at JBSA-Lackland, said she underwent training for the second time as a victim advocate.
Surviving a sexual assault as a child, Johnson said she can empathize with victims of sexual assault.
“Listening is the biggest thing an advocate can do,” Johnson said. “They can better explain the program, and they can better explain the investigation process to the survivor.”
Staff Sgt. Randy Rogers, 502nd Communications Squadron client system technician at JBSA-Lackland, played the role of a sexual assault survivor in a group exercise as part of the training class. Rogers is training to become a community advocate.
“It really opens your mind to the emotions, aftermath and lifelong effects of the sexual assault,” said Rogers about the role-playing exercise.
Rogers said he learned at the training session that anyone can be a victim of sexual assault.
“It really opened my eyes to the whole spectrum of sexual assault, not classifying it as a female problem,” he said. “Males can be sexually assaulted as well.”
Adrian Huddleston, Air Education and Training Command promotion and command records human resource specialist at JBSA-Randolph, said he is training to become a community advocate so he can inform JBSA and community members about the SAPR program.
“I know how important this program is to our Air Force family,” Huddleston said. “I have seen how this program has helped many people with their healing process. I want to be the conduit to help provide information in our community.”
Katka said training sessions for volunteers who want to become a victim or community advocate are held twice a year, with the next one scheduled for fall.
“We are always looking for volunteers,” Katka said. “If people are looking to make an impact on somebody’s life and help make a positive impact on the military culture, then this a great program to be a part of to help your fellow wingman.”
For information on the requirements to be a victim or community advocate, call 808-8976.