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Advocates for Sexual Assault Prevention; Airman seeks change ASAP

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Duran Chapman
  • 6th Contracting Squadron
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  People of all ages, races, economic backgrounds, sexualities, and lifestyles have been victims. Males as well as females can be victims.

After being given an opportunity to train as a volunteer victim advocate when first arriving to MacDill Air Force Base last year, Airman 1st Class Travis Lockwood, 6th Contracting Squadron contract specialist, knew at that moment he could make a difference.

And so he did.

With the help of the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator office, and countless hours of dedication, Lockwood created a new private organization devoted to ending sexual assault: Advocates for Sexual Assault Prevention MacDill.

When asked about ASAP, Staci Vileta, 6th Air Mobility Wing SARC, was positive about the program.

"I think the most important thing about it is that it shows a sense of personal responsibility on the part of the members of ASAP," said Vileta. "When peers start talking to each other about what they can do to make a change, that is when it is truly impactful."

Defined:

According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, "sexual assault can be verbal, visual, or anything that forces a person to join in unwanted sexual contact or attention."

Lockwood, founder and president of A.S.A.P, said his vision is "to create a culture change through peer leadership and education, and to foster a new way of thinking about sexual assaults in our communities."

The sexual assault statistics in the United States are startling. Every two minutes, a person in the U.S. is sexually assaulted with over half of those assaults going unreported to law enforcement. About 44 percent of victims are under the age of 18, many of whom know their attacker. It's estimated that one in six women and one in 33 men in the United States will have experienced an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime. Supporters of sexual assault awareness educate people about the resources available to them if an assault occurs, as well as provide information on how to reduce their risk of an attack.

"During my training we talked a lot about the problems facing our military family, and the opportunities we have to make a difference," said Lockwood. "I have an obligation as an Airman, husband and father to make our community safer."

Team MacDill SARC

If you, or someone you know believes they may have been a victim of sexual assault, you can call the 24-Hour Response Number: 813-828-SARC (7272), or visit www.safehelpline.org.

The military offers two reporting options: Unrestricted Reporting allows you to participate in the military criminal justice process. Restricted Reporting is kept confidential, and your chain of command and law enforcement are not notified. If you aren't sure whether you want to report the crime or have questions about your options, the Safe Helpline can help.