SARC Victim advocate Linda Franklin - Here for what you need

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Lynn Aird
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Meet Linda Franklin, secretary for the 71st Flying Training Wing commander at Vance. She is also a victim advocate with Vance's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program. 

"I actually used to volunteer with a similar program that was run out of what was then the family support center," said Ms. Franklin. "Then, when the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator program was started on base, I turned my application in to volunteer there."
 
The SAPR program was introduced by the Department of Defense in 2005. The Department implemented a comprehensive policy to ensure the safety, dignity and well-being of all members of the Armed Forces. 

"I think it's a very important program because if something like that were to happen to you -- I think that this is probably one of the most life-altering things that can happen to a person. And not just from a female standpoint, these things happen to males as well," said Ms. Franklin. "I think that having all the support you can get just to help you deal with life as you go through this is important." 

Aside from the DoD's motivations, Ms. Franklin described her personal motivation for volunteering with these programs as stemming from being a mother, and hoping that if something happened to her daughter, that there would be someone to support her on the level that the advocates support the women they work with. 

"Those mother instincts make me want to be able to be there to support someone else's daughter, who maybe doesn't have her mother here," said Ms. Franklin. 

Currently, Vance has eight fully trained victim advocates available to assist those who have experienced sexual assault. 

"We're not trained as counselors; we're just here to support the victims with whatever they need. If they want to talk, it's someone they can talk to," said Ms. Franklin. "Sometimes it's easier to talk to someone that you're not very close to, as opposed to your friends or family. You need someone that you can share with that is totally removed from your daily life." 

The victim advocacy program is one of the many support systems organized by Sheryl McMullen, the SARC at Vance. The program is designed to provide victims with an outlet for their feelings and experiences, as well as giving support for whatever course of action they choose to pursue. 

"An advocate's main purpose is to help victims deal with what's going on in their life, support them however we can, help them learn how to get back on track in their life, whatever they need in that way," explained Ms. Franklin. "Sometimes you talk to someone one time and they're done, and sometimes they need someone with them most of the time. But whatever they need, that's what we're there for."