Sexual Assault Awareness Month kicks off at Laughlin

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Angela Martin
  • 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  To reinforce a zero tolerance policy on sexual harassment, Col. Tom Murphy, 47th Flying Training Wing commander, teamed up with Roberto Fernandez, Mayor of Del Rio, Texas, at Laughlin's Anderson Hall for the annual Sexual Assault Awareness Month proclamation signing.

"This proclamation symbolizes the unity between Laughlin Air Force Base and the community and reinforces the dedication that we have to preventing sexual assault," Murphy said.

According to Murphy, this proclamation reinforces that sexual harassment is inconsistent with Air Force core values.

"Sexual assault has long lasting consequences on a unit, degrading readiness and our ability to work effectively as a team," Murphy said. "We call ourselves here at Laughlin Team XL, and Team XL cannot and will not tolerate sexual assault. We have to do everything in our power to prevent this crime from happening."

Additionally, the proclamation provides an opportunity to acknowledge local crisis response centers that prevent sexual assault on a daily basis.

"We make it a total community effort to make people aware that this community of Del Rio and Laughlin Air Force Base will not tolerate sexual assault on anyone," Fernandez said. "This is something that is totally unacceptable."

As part of the total community efforts, local high school students were invited to a presentation conducted by Brett Sokolow, an attorney specializing in sexual assault and sexual harassment cases.

To help the high school students and Laughlin's Airmen understand the importance of clear consent, the audience was presented with a sexual assault case involving alcohol and understanding the blurred lines the use of alcohol creates. According to Machele Terrell, 47th FTW sexual assault response coordinator, alcohol is the most commonly used drug in sexual assault cases.

"Today we're here to learn more and to educate our young people about the evils of sexual crimes. We must do everything to work to support the victims and to support the victim's family," Fernandez said.

To learn more about the events taking place this month or to receive more information about sexual assault, please call the SARC office at 298-4545.