Domestic violence: One-way ticket to hurting someone

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Brooke Brzozowske
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  Domestic violence is about power and control.

Safety is a basic need. A home that is not safe can wear on one and be debilitating, said Glen Garcia, 90th Medical Group Outreach Program manager.

"Domestic violence statistics are across the board," Mr. Garcia said. "There is no specific type of person, so it is important to recognize the signals and risk factors."

"The common themes that we [the family advocacy program] see with domestic abuse occur around finances, child rearing and in-laws," he said.

The common denominator within these themes is the impact technology has on our communication skills, Mr. Garcia said.

"Our work with human beings and their behavior tells us that 80 percent of communication is non-verbal," he continued.

The current economy and the winter have pulled everyone indoors, and this can force people's attention on each other in a positive or a negative way, said Megan Archer, family advocacy nurse. Suddenly, they are forced to rebuild or even initiate deeper relationships with their spouses or children. The technology of texting, instant messaging, TVs, entertainment gaming systems and similar tools have caused a gap in human connection and communication.

The winter months also show rises in domestic violence with children because they are seen by their peers and teachers in school, Mrs. Archer said. During the summer months, reports of domestic violence with children often trail off because they are not in school for someone to monitor.

Another problem may arise with military spouses who work in the civilian community, Mr. Garcia said. Military members are rather sheltered from the current economy, but problems may arise as spouses in civilian services may begin to lose their jobs.

Most of the time, young Airmen do not have anyone to turn to in times of financial crisis, Mr. Garcia said.

"That's a lot of pressure for anyone," he added.

"When we ask people who their support network is they often answer they don't know," Mrs. Archer said. The best thing to advocate is spouses helping spouses.

"We tend to be an isolated and insulated community on base," she said. "We need to be connected with a local support system."

The operations tempo across the military is also another trigger, Mr. Garcia said. Some families do not understand the mission of nuclear deterrence.

It used to be that deployments were an "if;" now it is "when and how long," he said. The Air Force culture has changed. The Airmen now are doing more with less.

"Our deployments and our mission are unique to our community," Mr. Garcia said.

Stress on the stay-at-home spouse and children can stem from a lack of understanding, he said. In fact, post inspection numbers of domestic violence and abuse have dropped significantly.

The family advocacy program tries to get in touch with the families early, so not just the military member, but the family as well is "deployment ready." It is important the member leaves a prepared family.

Families need to know what resources they have to reach out to, what programs are offered and who they can call for help.

"We want to promote the wingman culture," Mrs. Archer said. "It is okay to inquire. Ask your neighbor. Some one is always here to help."