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Airmen of all different ranks and genders gave their input on sexual assault when the Defense Task Force on Sexual Assault in the Military Services visited Ramstein Oct. 2 and 3 as part of their assessment of the overall DOD program.
“Findings from their visit here and at other locations will provide DOD leadership with information to effectively address matters, identify best practices and to recommend improvements,” said Capt. Vanessa Vanden Bout, KMC Sexual Assault Response Coordinator with the 435th Air Base Wing Staff.
The team met with various base agencies that have a role in the program, as well as focus groups of Airmen to find out their opinions and feedback on sexual assault.
“I never found sitting behind my desk that I accomplish much,” said Retired Rear Adm. Dr. Louis Iasiello, co-chair of the task force. “I think to really get your finger on the pulse and know what’s going on, you need to visit with the troops and see them when they work, where they live and where they defend our nation.”
The task force was founded in 2005 to help create victim care and advocacy programs, sexual assault programs and assist with military justice issues regarding the management and prosecution of sexual assault matters.
Following their Ramstein visit, the team will continue a demanding schedule reviewing SARC programs from all branches of service until next spring. The end result will be a comprehensive report with findings and directives for the future which will go to Congress next summer.
“Our job is not only to look at systems and accountability of those systems, but to look and process and see what needs improvement,” said Doctor Iasiello. “When a command takes it seriously, when people are investing themselves in the process, when people are passionate about creating an environment that has respect for others and are intent on responding to the needs of victims, it becomes quite obvious that the program is working.”
While at Ramstein, the task force saw a diverse group of professionals attacking the issue as a joint community.
“I feel that after speaking with the task force they understand how truly multi-service oriented the KMC has become and how the playing field between services must be level to combat sexual assault,” said Master Sgt. Daniel Paine, 569th U.S. Security Forces Police Criminal Investigator. “It is not an Air Force, Army, Navy or Marine issue, it is a military one which needs to be attacked as a team.”
With the high ops tempo at Ramstein and deployments increasing across the DOD, visits like these are critical to help units target specific areas that need improvement, but also to share those programs that should be adopted elsewhere.
And for base legal professionals, this includes areas of financial support, training and even changes to the law itself, said Capt. Gloria Downey from the 435th Air Base Wing Legal Office.
“We are charged with bringing these cases to court and the offenders to justice as well as providing support to victims. In these times of rapid deployments and over-burdened resources, this can be quite a challenge,” Captain Downey said. A challenge, but one that is continuously being tackled at Ramstein and throughout the KMC.
“We were praised by the task force for having dynamic and extensive training on sexual assault, as well as high visibility and accessibility to command and Airmen,” Captain Vanden Bout said. “Additionally, the team praised the relationships amongst law enforcement, OSI, legal and the SARCs in the KMC.”
While Team Ramstein can be proud of the efforts showcased to the task force, the bigger picture goal is that the input gathered here can help all of DOD.
“My real hope is that our recommendation for process and improvement of all areas overall are taken seriously and are adopted so that the quality of life for our men and women can be improved,” said Dr. Iasiello.
For more information about the task force, go to www.dtic.mil/dtfsams.
