Air Force extends SAPR services to AF civilians Published Aug. 25, 2015 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- A new Air Force policy now enables civilian members of Team McConnell to file restricted and unrestricted reports with the base sexual assault response coordinator. The policy is effective immediately and allows SARCs and sexual assault prevention and response victim advocates to assist Air Force civilians who report sexual assaults by providing crisis intervention and advocacy services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. "The SAPR office was already supporting our civilian Airmen informally through off-base referral services; however, the change to policy ensures that now our civilian Airmen can receive formalized supportive services here," said Lynn Turner, 22nd Air Refueling Wing SARC. The Department of Defense recently signed the exception to policy, granting the Air Force the authority to extend SAPR services. Air Force civilian employees will now receive the same services as those already eligible to use SARC services, with the exception of legal and non-emergency medical services, which are restricted by law. Prior to this exception, only civilian employees at overseas locations and their dependents 18 years old or older were eligible to use SARC services, and they could only file unrestricted reports. "Our civilian Airmen are valuable members of our team, and we're going to support them," said Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James. "While this is a huge win for the Air Force and our civilian force, we will continue to work at all levels to prevent sexual assault." SARCs and SAPR victim advocates will assist in contacting the appropriate law enforcement agency for Air Force civilians who file unrestricted reports to ensure reports are properly investigated and prosecuted. They will also be able to help civilians identify and contact additional off-base support organizations as needed. "I am excited about this change to policy because it further emphasizes how important and valuable our civilian members are to the Air Force family as a whole and ensures they receive the same level of care and support as our active duty members and their families," said Turner. "This change expands the availability of support services already in place to more of our team members." To contact the McConnell SARC, please call (316) 759-4357 or email lynette.turner@us.af.mil. Editor's note: Information from a Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs article was used in this story.