Sheppard kicks off April Sexual Assault Awareness Month

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Adawn Kelsey
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPAR AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Anne Munch, attorney prosecutor and advocate for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking, kicked off Sheppard's April Sexual Assault Awareness Month by giving two briefings, April 3 at the Sheppard Club.

Munch has 22 years of experience with sexual assault and domestic violence and has also been involved in military cases since 2003.

"I have been to bases around the world," said Munch. "I have been involved in cases ranging in ranks from higher leadership to airman basic. The briefings today are filled with information that all Airmen should know."

Munch said her briefing "Meeting the Defense Consent" helps take a microscopic look at what consent really is.

"This briefing helps prosecutors get a closer look and a better idea of all the information from that moment when things go from consent to non-consent," she said. "It helps you understand what no looks like and what the experience was for the victim."

The "Un-named Conspirator" briefing gives a broader view of how sexual assault is perceived to the modern generation and perceived through culture today. Often times the sexual assault cases are judged by the victims morals and behavior, society's attitude and how a person dresses.

"The second brief takes a look at what influences the situation, and it examines how we see the victims," she said. "It challenges the audience to see why we are comfortable confronting the victims of the case with accusatory questions.

"We have been raised in a culture with a lens and we tend to hold victims responsible to some extent in sexual assault crimes."

Tech Sgt. Anna Mejia, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response victim advocate, said the example Munch used for a richly dressed man and promiscuously dress woman really brought to light the way sexual assault cases are often viewed.

"Anne used an example of when she was at a wedding- a man made a comment about how women shouldn't dress so promiscuously and they wouldn't have as many sexual assaults," she said. "Anne then asked him 'Should a richly dressed man not deserve to be robbed?' This made me realize there are people out there who really think that way."

Chaplain (Capt.) Jason Klodnicki, 82nd Training Wing chaplain, said the briefing was informative and gives the audience a different perspective on sexual assault cases.

"I am confident we are headed in the right direction with this type of training," he said.

Munch said people raised modern day culture tend to minimize sexual assault crimes, and educating them about these cases is an opportunity for them to look at their attitude about sex.

"Airmen who are thinking the rapist is going to be a stranger need to be aware that 85 percent of the time the culprit is a friend or someone they know," she said. "That's why it is important to give them the most accurate information available."