Dyess Airmen participate in SAPR stand-down day

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Autumn Velez
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE, Texas --  On April 14, Dyess Airmen participated in a Sexual Assault Prevention and Response stand-down day.

During this down day, Airmen were required to attend large group events, as well as a small group event.

For the large group event, a commander's call was held by Col. Steven Beasley, 7th Bomb Wing vice commander.

Beasley opened the call by saying, "Today is about the offender."

In the past, SAPR stand-down days primarily focused on helping the victim. This year, the focus was shifted towards pin pointing the offender and ultimately stopping the perpetrator before they have the opportunity to act.

Throughout the large group event, different statistics were presented to make the problem of sexual assault seem tangible.

The statistics included the number of sexual assaults that happened in fiscal years 2012 and 2013, as well as the number that were actually reported during those years.

A study done by the Navy was also shared to show that 95 percent of the surveyed perpetrators have had more than one victim, showing the importance of reporting sexual assault.

Beasley went on to show work-places that tolerate inappropriate behavior, more often than not, have higher volumes of sexual assaults.

After the commander's call, Airmen went back to their squadrons where they broke off into smaller groups of approximately 25.

These small group events kicked off with an exercise in which one side of the room was labeled yes and the other no. Airmen were asked questions relating to how sexual assault has directly and indirectly impacted their lives and changed sides accordingly.

Discussions were provoked throughout the small group to help get a better understanding of how offenders operate, so Airmen will have the necessary knowledge to prevent sexual assaults.

Staff Sgt. Bryan Martin, 7th Bomb Wing Chapel, found the SAPR stand-down day to be necessary and productive in combating sexual assault across the Air Force.

"I believe that the most important way to combat this epidemic is through community awareness and that's what SAPR down days provide us, " Martin said. "By holding people accountable in their participation, the Air Force as an organization is ensuring mass awareness which, hopefully, would breed a culture that can identify perpetrators and support victims of sexual assault. The end goal is zero tolerance and this is our best way to get to that point."