Team Yokota Lights the Night

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Matthew Gilmore
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  A star in the night sky, but a speckle of light and safety from the surrounding darkness. Alone illuminating so little, yet when joined by other stars the night becomes so much brighter, shadows lose their places to hide and only the good remains.

For those who participated, the Light the Night 5k at Yokota Air Base, Japan, on April 13, 2018 was all about banding together to reclaim the night, showing that as a society sexual assault and the darkness it brings and the victims it creates will never be tolerated.

“Hope,” said Richard Coyle, 374th Airlift Wing sexual assault victim advocate program manager. “The hope that one day we can get to a point where sexual assault is no longer an issue in our society. The hope that we can talk about sexual assault in a historical perspective as opposed to a current problem we must combat.

“That hope is what the Light the Night event and Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month are all about.”

With the goal to eliminate sexual assault in its entirety, the sexual assault prevention and response office know they have a vital job to do in providing services to victims until that day becomes a reality.

“As an office, we exist to protect and support victims of sexual assault,” said Capt. Chris Hester, 374 AW sexual assault response coordinator. “From the initial stages of being a victim through the progression of becoming a survivor, we are here for them every step of the way.”

Along that road to becoming a survivor, the SAPR office has variety of options and services available to those who request their services.

“For victims, please know that you are not alone,” said Coyle. There are so many supporters and agencies who are here for you at any point in your time of need. That is what this office does, it is why we exist. We provide reporting options and services and most importantly, we do not make choices for you. Our goal is to empower you to make your own decisions. We provide you with the information and support you need to allow you to make the choices that best fit your needs.”

With response a key mission for them, the SAPR office also does its part to help prevent future acts from occurring.

“Prevention education and community outreach are our two other talking points,” said Hester. “If we are out doing our education piece and showing the community statistics and trends of sexual assault, we are arming them with preventative measures, not only for themselves but to potentially prevent others from becoming perpetrators.

“As part of our education we always aim to teach everyone the elements of consent and the importance of maintaining consent at all times. If we can educate people, then we can potentially minimize the amount of perpetrators out there.”

Through their prevention, intervention and response, the SAPR office knows that as a society their goal is a possibility.

“At the end of the day, no one should ever have to have a story about being sexually assaulted,” said Coyle. “If we as a community do what we need to do to prevent sexual assault through cultural change and understanding of how and when to intervene, I think we can get to a day where we do not have victims sharing their stories.

“Until that day arrives, if you are a victim, you will never be alone, we are always here for you. We will be here every step of the way until your story becomes not of being a victim, but of being a survivor.”

If you or anyone you know has been the victim of sexual assault and require assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the SAPR office at 225-7277, or in the event of an emergency, 225-7272.

“We just want to help,” said Coyle. “I can assure you that all information provided to us about your sexual assault will be safeguarded. If you need help, we can facilitate that while protecting your privacy. Nothing is ever released without your consent. You control the process.”