Ellsworth hosts victim advocate training

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jarad A. Denton
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  The Sexual Assault Response Coordinator office hosted a weeklong victim advocate training course open to participants from Ellsworth, the South Dakota Army National Guard, North Dakota Army National Guard, South Dakota Air National Guard and civilian contract employees.

The joint-service, multi-state training concluded Feb. 5, with a briefing from Army Brig. Gen. Tim Reisch, SDANG assistant adjutant general.

"The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program is a Department of Defense initiative, crossing all branches," General Reisch said. "Having a similar approach is beneficial for the prevention of assault and care of survivors regardless of demographic, therefore our branches have a lot in common in our policies to prevent and respond."

"Additionally," he said, "It is fiscally responsible to combine our resources in training, and discover commonalities between our communities, services and components."

General Reisch explained to the victim advocate class how sexual assault erodes unit readiness by destroying the trust that is essential to any military organization.

"Servicemembers must always watch out for each other and intervene when there is trouble," he said. "The strength of the unit is only as effective as the overall health of the unit."

Shannon Holstein, Ellsworth's SARC, said the training made the new victim advocates ready to assist victims.

"All victim advocates are heavily trained on the confidentiality aspects of restricted reporting," she said. "Victim advocates are selected and screened by the SARC before they are trained."

The mission and importance of the victim advocate program was supported by Col. Jeffrey Taliaferro, 28th Bomb Wing commander.

"Thanks to these volunteers for their leadership in this important area," Colonel Taliaferro said. "As the commander of Air Combat Command recently pointed out, being fit to fight is about more than physical fitness. It's also about our mental and emotional well being."

General Reisch also affirmed the importance of having victim advocates as a secure contact for people traumatized by sexual assault.

"We need victim advocates to be a one-on-one professional with the survivor, devoting their attention to assisting the survivor in making well informed decisions and offering appropriate resources," he said. "A SARC needs to be that subject matter expert to manage the victim advocates well and build the program and relationships to make resources available without hindrance. Through program management the SARC can accomplish this mission while devoting time to relevant, effective prevention."

The victim advocate training covered different types of sexual assault, as well as ways victims can be supported and cared for after the incident. General Reisch said he was pleased with the turn out for the training.

"It's a great feeling to see so many people willing to promote the mission of the SARC and help people in need."