SAPR events are avenue for sharing important message Published April 15, 2015 By Airman 1st Class Erica Crossen 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Teal is everywhere during April, but what does it all represent? The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response team of victim advocates and coordinators from around Team Scott are the force behind the awareness campaign. Victim advocates work to educate the Scott community through a series of public events focused on shedding light on the importance of preventing the harm inflicted by sexual assault on Airmen and their families. Some events, like the SAPR dorm dinner, act as an effective way to let Airmen know that the SAPR team is approachable. Tech. Sgt. Kira Givens, Victim Advocate and volunteer at the dorm dinner, said, "I like to do this kind of outreach, because I love to feed people. It just makes them happy, and while you're feeding them, you can feed them information as well. Educating them on victim advocacy and sexual assault prevention at the same time reaches them in a different way." Using comedy with awareness is another fresh way SAPR is spreading education on how to handle social situations before they escalate. A "Sex Signals" skit presented two showings to Team Scott April 10, which focused on issues related to relationships and respect. Col. Gregory Green, 375th Air Mobility Wing Vice Commander, said it's a personal endeavor to help ensure Air Force members really understand the culture of dignity and respect. He considers the sense of responsibility of everyone at Scott to prevent the harm sexual assault causes, including helping one's brothers and sisters in arms. "When I think about my friend's child entering the Air Force, I think what would happen if something terrible happened to her in the Air Force, specifically, a sexual assault. I would be extremely upset about it, because my friend thinks that I'm the Air Force, and she would say, 'why didn't you do something?'" He said we have come a long way in how sexual assault prevention and response should be handled. "I appreciate that we are often inundated with the idea of sexual assault prevention, so what we've done today is bring a new way of receiving the message. It's highly entertaining and refreshing." The skit also tackled idea of stereotypes, and presented situations that would beg the question "What would you do?" Jack Reitz, one of the two 'Sex Signals' skit members, said, "Calling out risk behaviors early prevents potential perpetrators from thinking that it's OK to escalate a situation." The interactive forum also allowed Airmen to share their experiences and how they would prevent a dangerous situation that may lead to assault. Ann Dufault, the other 'Sex Signals' skit member, said, "This idea that intervening in a social situation isn't any of our business, someone else is going to handle it, or you don't know the situation, isn't an excuse for an Air Force member. You all are supposed to take care of each other and step up and act when needed."