Don't be a victim, take control of your life's situations

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kristin Mack
  • 301st Fighter Wing
FORT WORTH, TEXAS --  Its drill weekend, you're happy to see old friends and all decide to have dinner and a few drinks downtown on Saturday. After a couple of drinks, you ask one of your co-workers to accompany you to the car to get your cell phone. Remembering the briefing about always having a wingman, you think what better wingman than a fellow unit member. 

The two of you reach the car when he begins to tell you about his recent break-up. While unlocking the car door, you feel you'll be more comfortable sitting in your car listening to him. Why not, you're safe. You're with a unit member and besides, you've always been told you're a good listener. He continues talking while reaching for your hand and leans over for a consoling hug; then everything explodes into a full sexual assault. 

Your mind is frozen, you don't know how to react -- this couldn't be happening; this is a member of my unit, a wingman. After the incident, you both head back to the restaurant; he walks beside you, acting as if nothing out of the ordinary happened; you're still in shock. 

You feel confused, embarrassed and maybe even blame yourself for what happened. Who's going to believe you! You don't know what to do or where to turn. Help is available! 

Help is just a phone call away every minute of every day -- you do have options and they do understand what you're going through. The first and hardest step is that phone call. 

The Sexual Assault Response support team was implemented at the 301st Fighter Wing in 2005 to respond to the needs of Reservists who have been sexually assaulted; they're available any time when a sexual assault or related incidents occur, whether on or off duty. 

"We're here to support the members of this community - they're one of our own," said Vicki Majors, 301st FW Sexual Assault Response Coordinator. 

This team consists of the SARC, Ms. Majors, and two victim advocates, Master Sgt. Tracy Kukawka and Laura Dermarderosian-Smith. The advocates have undergone 40 hours of training, are dedicated and well-prepared to receive calls and get victims the answers and resources needed during one of the most difficult times in the victim's life. 

The Sexual Assault Response team's role is to provide emotional support and referrals to those sexually assaulted. The call is held in complete confidence and will not be reported. The victim has the option of reporting the incident to authorities and whether to receive medical care at one of the local treatment facilities; there's also financial assistance available to those who qualify. 

In addition to being one of the victim advocates for the wing, Sergeant Kukawka has extended her role to become a volunteer at the Fort Worth Women's Center of Tarrant County, Inc. She recently completed 40 hours of training, which was divided into seven sessions, offered on Thursdays and Saturdays, to become certified through the center. 

"I really value the training (at the women's center)," said Sergeant Kukawka, 301st FW information management. "We got to meet the district attorney, child protective services, detectives, and several other guests during our training ... they taught us there are no victims, only survivors." 

To complete her training, she will perform two six-hour shifts with one of the more experienced volunteers at the center. Then, once trained and certified, she will sign up for four six-hour shifts a year as a minimum requirement for the program. "Being a volunteer involves being on-call at home during your shift," she added. 

The volunteers' primary duty is to offer emotional support and to provide a referral to one of the three local treatment facilities, Cook's Hospital, Arlington Hospital or John Peter Smith Hospital here. "The center is always looking for more volunteers," said Ms. Majors. 

"With my civilian job," said Sergeant Kukawka, "I've always had people come up to me for help when they didn't know how to handle it. Now I want to be able to help them and give back to the community."