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Shaw trains victim advocate volunteers

  • Published
  • By Holly MacDonald
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Her drill sergeant stood there. He smashed the door into her face, she said, bloodying her nose. Behind him stood four other men. Dressed in fatigues, they pushed their way into the room.

The men took turns raping and sodomizing her, the woman said. They beat her and kicked her, fracturing her ribs, right knee, nose, right cheekbone and spine. They urinated on her, burned her with cigarettes, split her lip and spit on her, while threatening to kill her.

This story was one of many the volunteers attending victim advocate training read, watched and heard during their classes to prepare them for the reality of helping someone face-to-face who had experienced something as traumatic. A victim advocate's role is to support the victim and ensure all of the victim's needs are met.

Eleven members from Shaw; Fort Gordon, Ga.; McEntire Joint National Guard Station, S.C.; and local civilian agencies recently attended a five-day course Shaw's education center. The course ended Feb. 2.

"The victim advocate provides 24-7 direct response to victims. Victim advocates must be equipped to assist victims navigate both civilian and military sexual assault response network," said Cynthia Evans, Shaw's sexual assault response coordinator. Volunteers were trained on many aspects of sexual assault, including psychological trauma, reporting and confidentiality, domestic violence, stalking, investigative procedures, medical procedures, prosecution procedures and drug facilitated rape.

The volunteers are given a wide range of training so they can assist the victim throughout the reporting process. However, victim advocates do not serve as counselors, therapists or investigators, Ms. Evans said.

Victim advocates furnish accurate and comprehensive information on available options and resources so the victim can make informed decisions such as obtaining a military protective order or moving to another set of living quarters, she said.

Victims may go through a wide range of behaviors and emotions including: anxiety, mood swings, disorientation, flashbacks, nightmares, guilt, shame, depression, fear, helplessness, emptiness, anger, denial, insomnia, withdrawal, shock, surprise, routine changes, substance abuse and appetite change - and still report to work every day.

"It is important to talk to a victim advocate because doing so helps the victim express thoughts and feelings that might otherwise not be shared or explored. Whenever anyone goes through a challenging experience, talking about it helps the person look at their feelings, the problem, their reaction and make sense of it," said Capt. Emily Richards, Shaw's deputy SARC and victim advocate.

Military victims are given the option of restricted or unrestricted reporting. Restricted reporting offers medical treatment and counseling benefits to the member with complete confidentiality. Unrestricted reporting offers the same medical treatment and counseling, along with a criminal investigation and possibly prosecution of the perpetrator. But it means they must come forward.

A victim should report the assault to the sexual assault response coordinator first if they want to pursue restricted reporting. Confidentiality cannot be guaranteed if the victim has told anyone else. It is a military member's duty by law to report knowledge of a sexual assault to legal authorities. The SARC hotline is the only avenue which offers confidentiality.