Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii -- Future military officers at the University of Hawaii Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program learned about the importance of Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month with members of the 15th Wing Sexual Assault Prevention and Response office and the university’s Title 9 staff at the UH Manoa Campus, April 7.
The cadets at Detachment 175 viewed the 2015 documentary “The Hunting Ground,” and discussed the realities of sexual assault on college campuses and in the military.
“It's important that we, as active duty members, reach out to the cadets because they are future officers,” said 2nd Lt. Allyssa Schimmoeller, 647th Force Support Squadron chief of readiness and plans and 15th Wing alternate Sexual Assault Response coordinator. “Not only are they the upcoming leaders in our Air Force, they are also in the vulnerable age group in which sexual assaults occur most often. If we can educate them and create dialogue that makes them more aware, we can be a part of the culture change.”
The students said they were surprised by the film’s presentation of the high numbers of sexual assaults that get reported without punishing end-results for the perpetrators.
“It frustrated me to see how helpless the victims were,” one student said. “It’s disgusting.”
Captain Thomas Odgers, Det. 175 Operations Flight commander, believes that SAPR training, even for those people who are not yet active duty, is imperative for being a good wingman.
“It’s not stuff you really want to talk about,” Odgers said. “We want to pretend it doesn’t ever happen, and then everything will be alright. But, the point is we have to talk about it. We’ve got to break that culture. The sooner we do, the better it’s going to be for everyone.”