Airmen unite against sexual assault

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Collin Schmidt
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --   On a daily basis, people all over the country are bombarded with innuendos, references, undertones and sometimes open-aired talk that relates to a sexual nature. For some, it is so commonplace they don't even notice it.

While sex and intimacy are part of human nature and is nothing to be ashamed about, we as a people must be careful not to take it too far. We must strive to not foster a culture of discrimination that allows those with ill intentions to thrive and possibly act on an impulse that could have severe repercussions for everyone.

For Airmen, this is especially true. The team we are a part of is built on trust and without it, the very framework of the system collapses.

For Malmstrom Air Force Base, fostering a culture of solidarity and unbroken communication is vital. With an extremely important mission that can only be accomplished effectively through teamwork, the fate of many relies on the acts of few.

In an effort to educate Airmen about sexual assault and what can be done to stop it, Jeffrey Bucholtz, We End Violence organization director, took time to share his story during a presentation at the base's auditorium Sept. 12.

"I have always loved teachers who were passionate," Bucholtz said. "The things that we talk about during these presentations feel very complex and our job is to help people see this issue in a more simple way. We kind of boil it down to its essence and the only way to do that on a topic like this is to connect with people."

During his presentation, Bucholtz poured over details about our everyday culture and brought to light some things that we as a people need to work on to help abolish the problems that plague our society when it comes to sexual assault.

"If you believe it matters, say it like it matters," he said. "I had wanted to be a doctor since I was in the seventh grade and I stopped studying that because when I started speaking about (rape and sexual assault) it clicked in my head and it made sense to me how we could make a difference."

Facts and challenges were key facets to his presentation.

Statistically, between one in four to one in six women, and one in seven to one in nine men, will be sexually assaulted during their lifetimes. Only five to 10 percent of these crimes will be reported to the authorities, according to Bucholtz.

While speaking, Bucholtz proposed a challenge to everyone - to stand up to the ways our culture accepts discriminatory and violent behavior - especially towards women.

For military members and our civilian counterparts, the stakes were raised to actively take a role in eradicating the culture and supporting those who may have already been affected by the acts of some.

Throughout the hour and a half session, Bucholtz shared his personal stories and what motivated him to stand up and do something about the problem.

"We really can do something about this," Bucholtz said. "It doesn't take perfection; it doesn't take a super hero cape. It just takes each of us finding an opportunity every week, every day and even every month to change the way people blame victims and to change the way we encourage perpetrators. That is all we have to do and if each of us does that little thing, all of the sudden you've got this massive effect and it will change."

For those in attendance, it was plain to see the connection between teacher and student.
At the end, questions were answered and anyone wanting to learn more was welcome to stay and speak with Bucholtz. But for everyone, a word of encouragement was his final farewell.

"It is possible to change this and it's easier than we think," he said.