Twitter
Facebook
The Army recently launched a new sexual assault program called I. A.M. Strong to combat sexual assaults by engaging all Soldiers in preventing sexual assaults before they occur, and the senior leadership of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command is taking action.
The foundation of the campaign is based on the phrase “Intervene, Act, Motivate” with the intent to get Soldiers to intervene, act and be motivated to stop sexual assault before it even begins.
“The 21st TSC is the first unit (in the community) to jump on board to tackle the issue. When the command is behind it, it sets the tone,” said Meghan Roberts, the sexual assault response coordinator for the KMC.
The 21st TSC is validating its reporting procedures and developing an operation order directing the subordinate commands and units in providing awareness and training, said Lt. Col. Joseph Bray, assistant chief of staff for personnel and administration for the 21st TSC.
In order to combat the rising number of sexual assaults, the 21st TSC has formed a Tiger Team to evaluate and look at the command’s current sexual assault program.
The team includes representatives from different sections who would be involved in a reported sexual assault case such as the Staff Judge Advocate’s office, the Equal Opportunity advisor, the Provost Marshal and the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator. The purpose of the team is to assess and analyze the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program within the 21st TSC, review and assess Army and 21st TSC sexual assault trend data, engage leaders at all levels to raise sexual prevention awareness and provide recommendations for improving the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program.
Some of the findings the team has identified are that sexual assault trends within the 21st TSC are consistent with Army-wide trends, and incidents of sexual assault are on the rise throughout the Army. Another finding is that 94 percent of all reported incidents within the KMC involve alcohol.
In addition to increasing awareness and intervention, the 21st TSC’s Tiger Team is determined to put a stop to sexual assaults within the command.
“We are committed to not just decreasing sexual assault, but eliminating it,” said Michael Wells-Smith, a safety specialist with the 21st TSC’s Occupational Safety and Health Office.
“If it happens to one person than we have a problem,” added Ms. Roberts.
“Soldiers must know that respecting and protecting the dignity of others is the cornerstone of our institution and that preventing sexual assault and speaking up are the right things to do,” said Gen. George Casey, the Army’s chief of staff, when he introduced the new program. “It’s about leadership. It’s about discipline and it’s about building a band of brothers and sisters that can rely on one another.”
A number of factors may have influenced the rise in the number of reported sexual assault cases; one of them is the two different types of reporting options.
The unrestricted reporting option is for victims who want to receive medical treatment, counseling and an official investigation. The restricted reporting option lets the victim receive treatment and counseling, but the incident is not reported to the command and an investigation is not initiated. The restricted reporting option was introduced about a year-and-a-half ago. The confidential aspect of the restricted reporting option means that more people are reporting being assaulted. This has also led to a rise in the number of men reporting being sexually assaulted. There has been an increase in male Soldier-to-male Soldier sexual assaults across the Army.
Army-wide, the victims are usually E1 to E4, 18 to 26 years old and female. The
perpetrators are usually E-5 and above, 25 years old or older and male.
Sexual assault and sexual harassment are both covered in the new doctrine. Sexual harassment is defined as a form of gender discrimination that involves unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. There are two types of sexual harassment: quid pro quo and hostile environment.
Quid pro quo refers to conditions placed on a person’s career or terms of employment in return for sexual favors. It involves threats of adverse actions if the victim does not submit or promises of favorable actions if the person does submit.
Hostile environment occurs when a person is subjected to offensive, unwanted and
unsolicited comments and behavior of a sexual nature that interferes with that person’s work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive working environment.
Sexual assault is defined as intentional sexual contact, characterized by use of force, physical threat or abuse of authority, or when the victim does not or cannot consent. Consent should not be deemed or construed to mean the failure by the victim to offer physical resistance. Additionally, consent is not given when a person uses force, threat of force, coercion or when the victim is asleep, incapacitated or unconscious.
Sexual assault specifically refers to victims of rape, forcible sodomy, indecent assault or carnal knowledge as defined by the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Community-wide briefings on sexual assault prevention and the I. A.M. Strong
campaign will be from 9 to 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6 and 8 at the Galaxy Theater on Vogelweh.
The number for the Sexual Assault hotline is 0162-296-7320 and can be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For details, contact the USAGK Sexual Assault Response Coordinator at 493-4148 or 0631-3406-4148.
