Air Force Link News

Special Victims’ Counsel is here to help survivors

Tech. Sgt. Robert Barnett — Mon, 04 Jan 2021 16:32:32 GMT

She was an officer with nearly nine years of service, who had been selected for promotion. She joined some colleagues on a weekend camping trip to take advantage of the summer weather. After enjoying a bonfire and games, they all settled in for the night, but one man, a fellow officer, didn’t.

Air Force, Army, Navy Secretaries host first national discussion on sexual assault, harassment

DoD News — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 19:35:00 GMT

Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson joined her Army and Navy counterparts April 4-5, for the first national discussion on sexual assault and sexual harassment at America’s colleges, universities and service academies summit at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis.

Retired Air Force general retroactively retired to major general following findings of misconduct

Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 21:29:00 GMT

Retired Air Force Gen. Arthur J. Lichte has been retroactively retired in the lower grade of major general following an investigation by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations which revealed that he engaged in inappropriate sexual acts with a subordinate while still on active duty.

The voice of the victims

Airman 1st Class Kyle Johnson — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 15:56:59 GMT

Power: the strength to make a decision. Control: the means to carry it out. These things are the currency of freedom, and what are robbed from sexual assault victims.

Air Force extends SAPR services to AF civilians

DoD News — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 20:00:00 GMT

The Air Force released a policy memo today allowing Air Force civilian employees who are victims of sexual assault to file restricted and unrestricted reports with their installation's sexual assault response coordinator.

Sexual Assault: A conversation with a survivor

Tech. Sgt Terri Paden — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 18:06:11 GMT

She had just returned from a party her freshman year in college when a close friend of the family and trusted mentor did the unthinkable. It was the first weekend she’d been allowed to stay off campus. After having one too many drinks she was picked up from the party by her boyfriend and driven to the home of her rapist to sleep it off until morning. Her boyfriend left thinking she was in good hands and that’s when the man she looked up to as a father figure took advantage of the drunk 18 year old passed out in his house.

AF top leaders hold event for Sexual Assault Awareness, Prevention Month

Senior Airman Hailey Haux — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 13:13:35 GMT

Airmen gathered in the Pentagon with the Air Force top leaders for a ‘chalk walk’ to raise awareness about sexual assault, April 20.

Take Back the Night 2015: 'Shattering the Silence'

Amber Baillie — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 14:22:00 GMT

Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James, along with the first survivor to speak out nationally about date rape, spoke to cadets during the U.S. Air Force Academy's second annual Take Back the Night (TBN) event April 16 at the Academy's Clune Arena in Colorado.

AF sexual assault prevention: moving in the right direction

Tech. Sgt. Terri Paden — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 12:03:30 GMT

“I was raised in a household where you take responsibility for your own actions and don’t blame others for your downfalls,” said Tech. Sgt. Kathleen Thorburn. “Instead of seeing a crime that had occurred, all I could see were my mistakes. Why did I go to that party? Why did I accept the drink? Why did I laugh at their jokes? Why didn’t I scream?”

AF Special Victims' Counsel provides legal assistance, support

Staff Sgt. Leslie Keopka — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 15:03:00 GMT

If a sexual assault happens, it is crucial for individuals to know who they can turn to, where they can go and what help is available to them. April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. The month focuses on ensuring Airmen and families are aware of the resources available to aid in the prevention of sexual assault and the different types of reporting procedures available.

Sexual assault rates decrease at military service academies

Claudette Roulo — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 17:54:14 GMT

Rates of unwanted sexual contact at the military service academies declined in 2014, according to a report released Feb. 11 by the Defense Department.

Sexual Assault Prevention Summit offers multiple tactics to prevent sexual assault

2nd Lt. Esther Willett — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 17:47:43 GMT

Leaders in academia, government, and industry presented cutting-edge research related to sexual violence at the Sexual Assault Prevention Summit Jan. 13, 14, and 15 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.

Sexual Assault Prevention Summit challenges Airmen to lead to prevent sexual assault

2nd Lt. Esther Willett — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 17:38:00 GMT

Visiting speakers discussed leaders’ roles in preventing sexual assault at the Sexual Assault Prevention Summit Jan. 13 and 14 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.

Hagel: Fight to end sexual assault must be ‘personal’

Amaani Lyle — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 13:45:00 GMT

Efforts to eliminate the baneful issue of sexual assault “must be personal,” Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in closing remarks at the Air Force Sexual Assault Prevention Summit Jan. 16.

Sexual Assault Prevention Summit prepares Airmen to talk effectively about sex

2nd Lt. Esther Willett — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 16:29:00 GMT

The president and founder of the Date Safe Project spoke frankly about sex at the Sexual Assault Prevention Summit Jan. 14, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.

Sexual Assault Prevention Summit tackles tough issues

Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs Command Information — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 13:59:00 GMT

Top Air Force leaders kicked off a Sexual Assault Prevention summit Jan. 12, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, to tackle tough issues and get honest and open dialogue from Airmen.

Wingman now a part of BMT culture

Staff Sgt. Devon Suits — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 12:36:00 GMT

Glamorized during the ‘80s movie ‘Top Gun,’ the concept of a wingman was to always keep the lead pilot safe, even at the cost of veering off to fight the enemy. For the past few years, “wingman” has become a pledge, promise and commitment between Airmen to take care of themselves and those around them. Today, at the Air Force’s only basic military training unit at Joint Base San Antonio – Lackland, Texas, the term is taking on an even different meaning. A Wingman leads by example and takes action when needed, and the term is also used here as a way to take a stand against sexual assault.

Airman puts SAPR training to test in real-world situation

Staff Sgt. Robert Barnett — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 17:04:00 GMT

An Alaska Air National Guard NCO found himself in a situation where he was able to use his sexual assault prevention and response training in a real-world situation during a weekend jaunt to downtown Anchorage.

AF ensures command visibility on substantiated sex-related offenses

DoD News — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 19:21:53 GMT

Air Force officials announced a new policy requiring the inclusion and command review of information on sex-related offenses in personnel service records Sept. 30.

Kunsan sexual assault prevention, response team brings home AF-level award

1st Lt. Earon Brown — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 12:39:00 GMT

The 8th Fighter Wing Sexual Assault Response Coordinator Maj. Daniel Giannavola, and Deputy SARC, Capt. Poonsak Kajonpong, were announced as the Air Force-level winners for the Department of Defense Sexual Assault Prevention Innovation Award for the timeframe of Oct. 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014.