Yokota stands against sexual assault

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Andrea Salazar
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  Team Yokota stood together to observe a sexual assault prevention and response stand-down day June 21, 2013. The event reinforced the Department of Defense's commitment to eliminate incidents of sexual assault through awareness and prevention training, education, victim advocacy, response, reporting and accountability.

All DoD installations were directed by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel to conduct a stand-down day before July 1.

Yokota launched its stand-down day in the early morning hours as commanders, chief master sergeants and first sergeants gathered for a leadership briefing. Afterward, active-duty service members and civilians attended two, base-wide commander's calls discussing the Air Force's zero-tolerance policy.

"Professionalism is a 24/7 job and requires us to understand that the American public holds us to a higher standard," said Col. Mark August, 374th Airlift Wing commander, as he addressed a packed house at Yokota's Taiyo Community Center. "We can't effectively deliver combat power in an environment that allows sexual assault."

While reaffirming Yokota's commitment to respond to sexual assault, August discussed the goal of reducing the number of incidents to zero.

"Our number one priority should focus on prevention," August said.

During the commander's call, audience members watched video messages from Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh III, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James Cody and Gen. "Hawk" Carlisle, commander of Pacific Air Forces.

"Each and every one of us must take it to heart to establish a culture where sexual misconduct is not condoned," Carlisle said. "It is every Airman's duty to understand that sexual assault is a crime and it is our moral obligation to expel this behavior from our ranks."

Carlisle stated that inappropriate comments, sexual harassment and sexual assault are unacceptable behaviors that violate the Air Force's core values.

In addition to the large-formation commander's calls, throughout the base, civilians and military personnel attended small-group training sessions to address sexual assault, ethics, critical duties and standards, and how violations of the standards impact mission readiness.

"In the small group discussions, people were engaged in the conversations and asking questions that you can tell have been on their mind, but they haven't had an opportunity or situation where they could ask about it," said 1st Lt. Marilyn Smith, 374th Airlift Wing sexual assault response coordinator. "It got everyone thinking and talking about the problem and addressing ways to eliminate it."

Smith said the stand-down day was successful in bringing the importance of prevention and response to everyone's attention.

"You can't eliminate this problem in one day, but it's days like today that bring us closer to overcoming this issue," Smith said.