100th ARW remains focused on sexual assault prevention Published June 7, 2010 By Staff Sgt. Austin M. May 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs RAF MILDENHALL, England -- April was Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and although summer is here, the 100th Air Refueling Wing's leadership remains focused on this important issue. "This is a constant challenge," said Col. Michael Winters, 100th ARW vice commander. "We're doing very well at RAF Mildenhall, but there is definitely a risk present." One of the focuses of Sexual Assault Awareness Month this year was bystander intervention. Colonel Winters said everyone has a responsibility to stop the crime of sexual assault whenever and wherever possible. "The problem is that society is grappling with new 'norms,'" the colonel said. "A perpetrator may not know he's committing a crime, but that's not a valid excuse. "There are no valid excuses - no 'honest mistakes' - when it comes to sexual assault," he added. Many sexual assault cases involve several common denominators, all of which are constantly present here. An influx of new people, lots of social gatherings and a lower drinking age can be a recipe for disaster if people don't know what to look for. "Alcohol can play a major part in the breakdown of communication and loss of awareness that can lead to a sexual assault," Colonel Winters said. "Consent for sex can't be established ahead of time; if someone is drunk enough to pass out, they can't possibly give consent, and as soon as that consent is either retracted or can't be retracted, it's no longer there." The colonel admits a difficult factor for young Airmen is knowing where the line is - especially if both people have been drinking. "That's where bystander intervention really comes into play," he said. "It only takes one person with good judgment to see a situation getting out of hand, and thankfully there are all kinds of ways to intervene." At first, stepping in and saying "no" for someone who can't say it themselves may be awkward, but the impact could completely alter their life. "Sexual assault has very serious impacts," Colonel Winters said. "It has the capacity to utterly destroy a person's confidence and trust of others, all the more so when the perpetrator is a military member." That means sexual assault also degrades a person's ability to support the mission, and Colonel Winters said there isn't a commander in the Air Force who won't pursue appropriate action when their Airmen are victims or perpetrators of the crime. "Commanders have set a climate of zero tolerance, and it's important for the victims to know that we will support them no matter what," he added. The first step in getting help after a sexual assault is reporting it. There are several options for military members or dependents who wish to report a sexual assault, and they begin with the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, Rebekah Downs. There are several options for reporting, and it's possible to keep the report restricted from the chain of command. For more information, call DSN 238-2009. Colonel Winters said while it may take courage to confront someone who is about to cross the line, it's worth it.