SARC Victim Advocate 1st Lt. Jessa Charron - Here to listen to you

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Lynn Aird
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Meet 1st Lt. Jessa Charron, T-6A Texan II instructor pilot with 33rd Flying Training Squadron. She is also a victim advocate with Vance's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program.
 
"I was at the Air Force Academy when the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator program first came up," said Lieutenant Charron. "I learned about it then and it sounded like a good program, but I didn't really get involved until I came to Vance." 

The base's SARC, Sheryl McMullen, is available to help victims of sexual assault. She is available to speak to survivors about restricted and unrestricted reporting, explain the prosecution process and give information about various helping agencies on base and in the local community. 

One such support network is the Victim Advocate program. If a victim chooses to request a victim advocate, Ms. McMullen pairs them with one of eight trained women on the base. 

"The victim advocacy program itself is important because unfortunately sexual assault is massively underreported and vastly under-prosecuted, a lot of times because of a lack of evidence," said Lieutenant Charron. "And sadly, a lot of victim blaming takes place." 

According to sexualharassmentsupport.org, victim blaming occurs when the harasser or other people in the environment blame the victim for the sexual harassment itself, or the resulting controversies and conflicts that occur after the behavior is reported or discovered. People may believe the victim could stop the harassment if they really tried, or that they must have done something to cause it--for example, by the way they dress or act. The victim may be accused of liking to create drama, or cause trouble. 

The victim advocacy program is designed to provide those who have experienced sexual assault with a safe place to talk about their experiences while being free of blame. 

"I have learned a lot in my time with this program, especially how to be a really good listener," explained Lieutenant Charron. "We're not trained counselors; we're just there to be a good friend and a sounding board for victims if they want us to be. This program helps set up a good support network, allowing the victim to transition from victim to survivor." 

According to Department of Defense officials, of the 6.8 percent of women and 1.8 percent of men who indicated they experienced unwanted sexual contact, the majority -- 79 percent of women and 78 percent of men -- chose not to report it. 

"I think that being able to talk to someone, or knowing what your legal options are, helps people to move on and start the healing process," said Lieutenant Charron. "If you don't ever start or continue with the healing process, it can really detract from your performance and your overall quality of life."