Protecting our people, protects our mission

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Melanie A. Hutto
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  “Protecting our people, protects our mission,” is the theme of this year’s Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.

“Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month is one of the best ways to push mass messaging about the importance of sexual assault prevention," said 1st Lt. DeAndrea Jones, the 35th Fighter Wing deputy sexual assault response coordinator. “At the same time it orchestrates fun and informative events, keeping the general public trusting the sexual assault prevention and response team.”

Trust enables victims and survivors to be comfortable enough to walk through the SARC doors here at Misawa Air Base, or any other base, at the time they need it the most, she continued.

The Misawa SARC and volunteer victim advocates continually promote that each person has a role in ensuring service members can live and work free from the threat of sexual assault, along with understanding the negative impact a sexual assault has on an individual and a unit’s readiness to perform its mission.

Even though prevention and awareness is a 24/7, 365-day effort across the Air Force, localizing SAAPM activities extends the message. This month, the team has a table with a variety of SAPR branded items set up in the foyer between the commissary and base exchange, manned by VA’s on the weekend.

“Sexual assault has damaged Sailors, Soldiers, Marines and Airmen in the past and becoming a victim advocate is my way of giving back,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Johnny Cohnes, a volunteer VA. “Whether it be helping plan events, or receiving a call in the middle of the night, I will do my part in helping a victim get their voice back and continue efforts to eliminate sexual assault from our ranks.”

Additional events include a seminar on motivational interviewing, April 18 through 20, and a sexual assault victim speaker on April 25 at the Enlisted Collocated Club.


“The SAPR team cannot do it alone,” said Jones. “It takes every member of the 35th Fighter Wing and Department of Defense to foster and encourage positive behaviors deterring an environment where sexist behaviors, sexual harassment, hazing, bullying and sexual assault are not tolerated, condoned or ignored.”

“Sexual assault is an issue of culture,” she continued. “Erase the culture, decrease the problem. Build a culture amongst each other where we become family and not just wingmen. Family supports, encourages, holds each other accountable and most of all loves. We do not harm the people we love.”

Keep up with the SAPR office happenings on social media.

Facebook -- "WildWeaselSAPR" or "Misawa SAPR"
Twitter -- "@WildWeaselSAPR"
Instagram -- Instagram.com/WildWeaselSAPR