SARC Victim Advocate Mary Loveless - Here to make a difference

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Lynn Aird
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Meet Mary Loveless, resource advisor for the 71st Mission Support Group. But aside from her day-to-day duties with the MSG, Mrs. Loveless also works with the Vance Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program as a certified victim advocate.

"The call came out and asked if anybody wanted to be an advocate. And I thought this was something that I could do where I could make a difference. It's not your normal type of community service volunteer work," said Ms. Loveless. 

There are currently eight fully certified volunteers who serve as victim advocates at Vance, and several others undergoing the training process. In order to become a victim advocate, volunteers must participate in over 40 hours of training beforehand, as well as attending refresher training courses after certification to expand their knowledge and improve their skills. 

"When you look at the statistics, one in three military women has been sexually assaulted some time in her life. And that's not just in their time in military -- it's an overarching problem for our society as a whole," said Ms. Loveless. "When you look at those numbers and you think about how many women have suffered from some form of abuse, you see that we need to do something to stop that." 

The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program provides each victim or survivor a victim advocate. The duties of the victim advocate range from responding to the hospital, accompanying a sexual assault victim to interviews with law enforcement, to just being available to listen and talk. 

"This kind of work requires the best in you. You have to be prepared to be patient, understanding, and to offer unconditional love and support," said Ms. Loveless. "You have to leave all your prejudices and pre-conceived notions at the door. This is the most meaningful work I have ever done."