Vance SARC presents 'My Body My Life' rape prevention class

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Frank Casciotta
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  The first "My Body My Life" rape prevention and self-defense course was presented by the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator office Nov. 29 in the Community Chapel Activity Center on base.

Ten women attended the course, which is divided into eight chapters: awareness, empowerment, relationships, self-esteem and abuse, alcohol and drugs, date rape, violent rape, and cyber cautions.

My Body My Life was developed by two police officers from Norman, Okla., to teach women ways to prevent, and protect themselves against, violence.

"We saw a presentation on the class at the Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault conference, and thought it would be a good class to teach here," said Terri Presa, the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator at Vance.

"I think this program will have a huge impact on young women at Vance, and possibly the Enid community," said Presa. "Anything we can do to protect our women and prevent sexual assaults is our number one priority."

"The overall idea of the class is to show women ways to prevent violence against them through honest education that teaches awareness," said Navy Lt. Jonathan Kindel, a My Body My Life instructor and an instructor pilot with the 33rd Flying Training Squadron here.

"Most rape prevention classes are for women who are 18 years old and up because of the subject matter. But it has been found out that rapes occur as early as 13, and that scared me," said Kindel.

"We need to educate young girls on what to do, how to report, how to get out of a situation and the art of saying 'no,' to someone really persuasive and upfront," said Kindel. "This class teaches them exactly what to do and provides them tools for these situations."

Vance currently has four My Body My Life instructors: Kindel; Tech. Sgt. Micah Lenamond, 71st Security Forces Squadron; Airman 1st Class Nicholas Galbraith, 71st SFS; and Tena Dominguez, the SARC assistant.

The next class will cover violent rape and drugs and alcohol and is slated for January.

For more information and to sign up for the class, contact the SARC office, 213-5598.