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Females learn to flee during self-defense class

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Nicole Sikorski
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  A U.S. Air Forces Central Command mechanical subject matter expert, taught 32 female Airmen, Soldiers, military spouses and retirees self-defense techniques here at the Fitness Center, April 19.

The class was offered to women as a preventative measure against sexual assault by the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program to commemorate Sexual Assault Awareness month.

One of Air Combat Command's ongoing priorities is eliminating sexual assault in the military, as it is a crime and incompatible with Air Force values.

This hour-long class instructed females on multiple ways to escape from an attacker in a moment of possible desperation. 

 The class is offered to women to reduce the risk of being exposed to sexual assault and to give them a safe place to talk about their experiences, according to Cynthia Evans, Sexual Assault Resource counselor.

Master Sgt. Jamey Olsen, who has been teaching the self-defense class for five years, also spoke about the importance of other safety precautions such as locking doors at home and garage doors and also keeping beverages safe while in a social setting.

According to Olsen, who has worked with multiple victims of sexual assault, the attacker is more often than not, someone the victim knows.

He explained a time where a student of his was able to resist an assault because of the skills he had equipped her with during his class.

"It was the first time I got a true sense of fulfillment," said Olsen. "She kept wearing a hooded sweatshirt to training, and I told her not to do that. One day I finally grabbed her hood and it scared her into taking it seriously. Three months after she took the class, someone broke into her house. She came back thanking me because she was able to escape."

However fulfillment has come with a sense of loss for Olsen, as his past girlfriend was murdered by her ex-husband. As traumatic as this experience was for him, he exemplified resiliency as he shared his skills with other women to keep it from happening to them.

"It drives me to make sure it doesn't happen to another girl," he said.

The self-defense course does not go unappreciated by participants.

"This class is a great learning experience," said Karen Kildron, wife of 20th Fighter Wing Vice Commander, Col. Lance Kildron. "When you are in a situation like that, you need to feel empowered and in control. The more you practice, the more control you feel."

The SARP offers this class annually during the month of April at no cost to all military ID card holders.