SARC offers help, confidentiality to victims of sexual assault

  • Published
  • By Karen Abeyasekere
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  With a background in mental health counseling as a licensed clinical professional counselor, and having helped others in some form for much of her career, Kimberly Dickman is more than qualified in her position as the new sexual assault response coordinator for RAF Mildenhall.

Prior to taking over the SARC reins here this summer, Mrs. Dickman was the SARC at nearby RAF Alconbury, and said she feels it is more of a calling than a job.

"As a parent raising three daughters, I realize how critical it is that people have information - starting at a young age - to educate them along the way. They need to know how to protect themselves and how to step in for others [known as 'bystander training'] before a situation becomes more serious," she said.

"Being a parent has really highlighted that for me, and knowing people who've been assaulted, and seeing the aftermath of that has been a big motivator for me in hopefully preventing it, but if not, ensuring people get all the help they need."

Mrs. Dickman, who grew up as a military dependent and is also a military spouse, said part of the SARC's role is prevention and education briefings, and her background in teaching is a big help with that.

The Air Force has mandatory requirements as far as training for sexual assault prevention, and it's therefore a big part of the SARC's job.

"I make sure people know their rights and who they can talk to [if an incident happens]," she said. "I coordinate with victim advocates, and work with Air Force Office of Special Investigations, legal, security forces and the victim witness assistance program - they're all players in making things happen."

To get audience participation in her briefings, Mrs. Dickman said she aims to make it interactive, by getting people to stand up and speak.

"Most people are not assaulted; most people are defending and doing the right thing, so a lot of time the audience thinks, 'Well that's not me - I'm not going to listen,'" she said. "If I can turn it and make it personal to them, that it could be your spouse or your daughter or Mom or any one of us, then people know I'm talking to them. I also highlight that we would like someone to protect those whom we love, so much.

"If I can get [people] to somehow personalize it, then I know they'll take away something from the briefing. The interaction makes it more fun for me, and it makes it more fun for them, which usually helps people remember what was said."

Mrs. Dickman said for anyone who has recently been sexually assaulted, the most important thing is to encourage the victim to seek medical attention, to check if they are physically okay and to get a forensic exam to gather evidence.

"And whether in that instance, or if it happened a week or a year ago, we make sure they have information on reporting, as there are different types, depending on whether or not the person is active duty."

The SARC explained that with each type of reporting there are certain rights and controls that the victim has, so knowing those details are crucial.

"Controls" refers to who has access to the information on the incident; a restrictive report means no one will no - no commander knows, nor agencies such as OSI. The victim has complete control over who has access to the information or where it goes from there, which is critical, said Mrs. Dickman.

"If somebody calls and tells me their friend has been assaulted, I explain to them how critical confidentiality is," she said. "If they go and tell someone else, and the commander, first shirt or first responder hears, then total confidentiality is lost."

The SARC also offers emotional support to help the person get through the experience.

"It's never the victim's fault - there's often a lot of questioning and self-blame after someone becomes a victim. But no matter what they've done or where they were it's never their fault. Self-doubt is a natural process after such an incident," she said.

Mrs. Dickman said also, the support agencies - whether herself or any other victim advocate - are all here to support and honor confidentiality. They are all here to do only what the victim wants to do, whether that means keeping the information restricted or sharing it with other agencies.

"If they don't want to come to [the SARC office], the chaplains are also a great resource as they don't tell anybody. Research has found that just getting help from someone helps with the recovery process," she said.

For more information, to schedule a briefing or commander's call, or to talk to the SARC in confidence, call DSN 238-2009 or 01638 542009 during work hours, or the SARC 24-hour hotline at DSN 238-7272 or 01638-547272.