Lex Talamo

alexa.talamo@shreveporttimes.com

On Friday afternoon, Barskdale Air Force base held its first ever "Walk to Remember" in commemoration of Air Force members who had been victims of sexual assault.

About 15 airmen — both men and women — completed the mile long route that zigzagged through the base complex. Ten signs with anonymous testimonies from base members, statistics and information about convictions of perpetrators marked the route and provided opportunity for airmen to stop and reflect.

"This is a time to commemorate the toll that sexual assault has taken on this community and to stand with our survivors," said Lt. Molly McAuliff, the base's deputy sexual assault response coordinator who envisioned and organized the event. "Some of us may know what the walk of a survivor is like. Some of us may have family members who do. Whatever your story is, it is never too late to join in the journey to help a survivor take their next step in healing."

The first stop on the walk contained the testimony of a female airman who had been raped on a date. She wrote: "This experience ripped any self-worth from me. I felt that I would never be able to trust again. That I would never be able to be myself again."

The airman's story continued to reveal how her low self-esteem led her to an abusive relationship, a divorce, and a 5-year journey to recovery— ending in a second marriage with a "wonderful man" and "a love that was meant to be."

"But I still carry emotional baggage and some medical issues from that day," the airman concluded. "I lost my innocence to rape."

According to a 2015 RAND report, 15 percent of female airmen and 1.5 percent of male airmen will report being sexually assaulted in their lifetimes.Despite victim stigma or fear of not being believed, those who report assault often can bring perpetrators to justice. Two signs along the route told of convictions of those who had assaulted airmen: one of which resulted in nine years in prison, the other of which resulted in 18 months in prison. Both perpetrators were also dishonorably discharged and reduced to an E-1 grade— the rank of an entry-level airman.

Thomas Browne — a U.S. Navy veteran and husband to Sandy Browne, the manager of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program on base— said he was glad the Air Force community was acknowledging the reality of sexual assault in the military.

"I'm happy to be walking today in acknowledgment," Browne said. "We didn't have this when I served. People just dealt with this on their own."

Senior Master Sgt. Barbara Schleben said she walked to raise awareness for those who did not report their abuse.

"From my own experience, this is not something I want to remember, but this is something I want for people to remember," Schleben said. "Everything we do matters. This is a voice, a way to overcome a crime of violence."

Technical Sgt. Shanco Williams said he marched because he wanted to be part of a positive change.

"Why I decided to participate today is I wanted to make a change, and this is a way to take a stand," Williams said.

Another sign along the route reported that 19 percent of assaults of military members occur during temporary duty— time when airmen are temporarily stationed away from their home base. An additional 30 percent occur when military members are out with friends or at a party, and for male victims more than 50 percent of assaults occur at work.

The Walk to Remember concluded with a heart-felt speech from Col. Brandon Parker, the base's 2nd Bomb Wing Vice Commander.

"We're trying to stamp out something that's been an epidemic. Sometimes people have to see collectively that you're standing up," Parker said. "So we walk to remember survivors, to remember their strength. We walk to send a message to the predators out there, to show that we stand up. Furthermore, we walk to leave a legacy for those who will come after us, that our air forces and our bases and our nation will be better than what it is today."

Correction: Ranks of airmen have been updated.