Volunteers provide care for sexual assault victims Published Feb. 8, 2016 By Senior Airman Jason Wiese 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- Victims of sexual assault often feel isolated, cutoff from their wingmen, or alone in their trauma. Now, there are volunteers on F.E. Warren whose job it is to reach out to victims, stand by them and speak for them. These are the Assault Prevention and Response Office’s victim advocates. “Sexual assault can be devastating for the victim, and having the advocate there supporting them all the way through the process is huge,” said Marti Salas, 90th Missile Wing full-time VA, whose role is similar to the volunteer VAs. “Their primary role is to provide information and support to victims and sexual assault,” said Salas. “They are advocates for the victims, they can help move the victim past any roadblocks to get the information or services they need.” Trained VAs give victims all the information and options available and assist them to move forward, she said. VAs become the trusted face a victim can rely on. Senior Airman Jordan Bailey, 790th Missile Security Forces Squadron commander’s support staff, recently finished training and is on the roster of 90th MW VAs. She said the reason she volunteered to be a VA is because she wants people to get the help they need in when they need it. “Not everyone is comfortable going to loved ones,” said Bailey. “This program gives people a chance to get help from a neutral party.” Bailey emphasized being a consistent guiding hand for victims is no small task. In light of that fact, each volunteer goes through 40 hours of training to help prepare for different scenarios they may encounter. “I think we do the best we can with the training, but nothing really prepares you like when you first actually care for a victim,” said Salas. “We can cover as much information as possible, but until you’re actually in the situation, you never really know fully what to expect.” Fortunately, the VA program draws top-notch volunteers, she said. Most of the VAs she has encountered are very passionate about caring for victims. “Maybe they have personal experience or they’re just really passionate about it,” she said. “Victims are sensitive to that and realize the person is really there for them.” Bailey is certainly one of the passionate ones — she said the VA program and the SAPR Program as a whole do more than just help victims. “I really believe this program is helping to change the way our society sees sexual assault and the culture surrounding it,” she said. “To be a part of something like that means more to me than I could ever express in words.”