SELFRIDGE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, MICH. -- It’s showing its ugly head again. It first showed up in the Navy Tailhook scandal in the early 1990s. Most recently it reared its ugly head again at the Air Force Academy in March 2003.
Left unreported, it can ruin lives, careers, and embarrass leaders all the way up the chain of command.
It’s called sexual assault and it may be happening in varying degrees on all of our military bases.
Since the sexual-assault incidents at the Air Force Academy surfaced, the Department of Defense launched an investigation of all branches of the military. It found that education on the subject was severely lacking. The Air Force, which has zero tolerance for this behavior, has been taking steps to ensure that its leaders are ready to deal with the problem.
One of those steps was to install a sexual assault response coordinator (SARC) at each of its bases.
Laura L. Gregory became the first SARC for the 927th Air Refueling Wing in October 2005. She worked for the Army for three years as a clinical social worker and is qualified to do therapy.
“The Air Force is finally acknowledging that these sexual assaults are happening to its members,” said Ms Gregory. “Sexual assault is not necessarily rape or violent behavior. It can be unwanted advances or using your rank to get sexual favors.”
She said statistics show that the incidents span all ranks and age groups, but most are going unreported. Ten percent of the victims are male.
“Just because we don’t know about it doesn’t mean that it’s not happening,” said Ms. Gregory. “One of my main concerns is that people may be inclined to think that it can’t happen here because they know each other. When friendships develop, sometimes the boundaries get blurred or are not clearly defined.”
Ms. Gregory said she will be going to each unit to give a mandatory briefing which includes a video presentation and an open discussion.
“I usually get approached for more questions or comments after each briefing,” she said.
She also said that she’s not here to respond only to a recent event, but also to talk with victims who have previous unresolved issues.
“Confidentiality is my top priority, and I will do my best to make sure that is carried out,” said Ms. Gregory.
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