McConnell's SAPR stand-down day

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Colby L. Hardin
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  McConnell Air Force Base will be using May 2, 2014 as a Sexual Assault Prevention and Response stand-down day.

Col. Joel Jackson, 22nd Air Refueling Wing commander, will host various commander calls on Thursday, May 1 and Friday, May 2.

"It is extremely important to educate members on sexual assault prevention," said Lynn Emond, 22nd ARW Sexual Assault Prevention Response Office sexual assault response coordinator. "Education helps prevent this criminal behavior by creating an environment of safety and support for our Airmen."

This SAPR stand-down day aims to stop sexual assault by spreading awareness of the problem and through teaching members of Team McConnell how sexual assault can be prevented.

"True prevention is not allowing the offender to offend," said Emond. "We want to create an inhospitable environment for the offender."

More than 150 people throughout the wing received training from Emond throughout the week in which they will use to train smaller groups on the stand-down day.

The trainers leading the groups will also engage participants in open discussions about ways sexual assault can be prevented and resources available to victims if it were to occur.

"It's important that we as a wing educate ourselves on the serious issue of sexual assault," said Col. Joel Jackson, 22nd Air Refueling Wing commander. "It is a crime and it will not be tolerated."

For more information on the SAPR program, please call the McConnell SAPR Office (316) 759-3048 or (316) 759-1872 or email the McConnell SARC at lynette.emond@us.af.mil.

For 24/7 sexual assault response services, contact the SAPR Hotline at (316) 759-HELP.