Sexual Assault Awareness Month helps Airmen be better wingmen

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Joel Mease
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  While Sexual Assault Awareness Month may be concluding at Dyess, that doesn't mean looking out for your wingman lasts only one month out of the year. 

Over the past month Stacy Vileta, Dyess sexual assault response coordinator, has planned events to bring awareness of sexual assault to the Dyess community. Events included a 5K run, to handing fliers at the front gate, and bringing in a guest speaker were all designed to remind Airmen and their families the seriousness of the subject. 

One of the biggest messages Ms. Vileta was trying to push was for us to be stronger wingman to our fellow Airmen. One of the scenarios Airmen were presented with was a guy who would purposely get a lady intoxicated to make it easier for him to be intimate with her. The problem with the scenario is the guys friends who see the event happen and fail to intervene, she said. 

"We wanted to create events that would raise awareness and encourage the wingman concept," Ms. Vileta said. "We've all been in circumstances like a bar or party where we see a situation that could be bad and we say to ourselves someone should do something about it. When in that situation, we should realize that someone should be us." 

Programs like the "Can I kiss you" presentation given during the awareness campaign are designed to provide Airmen the tools to do the right thing when presented with those situations. 

"The programs we bring try to be funny and entertaining about a topic that is difficult to talk about," Ms. Vileta said. "We've received really positive feedback from Airmen who attended them, and many of them have personally told me the programs we have given gave them the courage to intervene in a tough situation." 

The ultimate goal of these events is for Airmen to take these messages and start a dialogue with their friends and family and hopefully change the way they think about sexual assault. 

"I always challenge Airmen to work me out of a job," Ms. Vileta said. "If everyone works to intervene then we can work our way to no assaults and hopefully no reason for my job to be here." 

Besides bringing awareness to sexual assault, Airmen who want to do more can always assist the SARC office. 

"We are always looking for people to step forward and be victim advocates," Ms. Vileta said. "We will give you the training needed to help someone in need." 

If interested in becoming a victim advocate contact Ms. Vileta at 696-5499. 

If you are a victim of sexual assault and would like to make a restricted or unrestricted report, contact the 24-hour SARC number at 518-1802.