Sexual Assault, Prevention & Response

Sexual harassment and sexual assault violate everything the U.S. Army and Air Force stands for including our military values and Warrior Ethos. The National Guard is aggressively addressing sexual assaults by first focusing on prevention through education and training. National Guard leaders encourage reporting and work hard to reduce the stigma associated with sexual violence. Once reported, the focuses is on care for victims and thorough investigations and prosecutions to hold offenders accountable. The National Guard continually assesses the effectiveness of its sexual harassment/assault response and prevention efforts to ensure the military is meeting the needs of the Soldiers and Airmen, civilians, and family members.

Obtaining Help! Immediate medical care is essential. Get to a safe place and CALL 911. Once medical care has been established, contact the your SAPR or SARC.

  • DCNG SARC Office: (202) 685-9883
  • D.C. Army SARC Hotline / 24hr phone: (202) 841-4783
  • 113th Wing SARC: (240) 857-2828
  • 113th Wing SARC Cellphone: (240) 674-SARC (7272)
  • Joint Base Andrews SARC: (301) 981-SARC (7272)
  • DoD Safe Helpline 24/7: (877) 995-5247

Sexual Assault Defined

Sexual Assault is defined as intentional sexual contact, characterized by use of force, threats, intimidation, or abuse of authority or when the victim does not or cannot consent. Sexual Assault includes rape, forcible sodomy (oral or anal sex), and other unwanted sexual contact that is aggravated, abusive, or wrongful (including unwanted and inappropriate sexual contact), or attempts to commit these acts. Sexual assault can occur without regard to gender, spousal relationship or age of victim. Consent shall not be deemed or construed to mean the failure by the victim to offer physical resistance. Consent is not given when a person uses force, threat of force, coercion or when the victim is asleep, incapacitated, or unconscious.

Reporting Options

The Department of Defense has instituted new avenues for reporting sexual assault in the form of Restricted and Unrestricted Reporting. Restricted Reporting allows a victim to report a Sexual Assault without triggering an investigation. It is intended to give the victim (survivor) time and control over the release of their information. Further, it also empowers the survivor to make an informed decision about participating in the criminal process.

Unrestricted Reporting

Unrestricted reporting allows a Soldier who is sexually assaulted and desires medical treatment, counseling, and an official investigation of his/her allegation to use current reporting channels (for example, the chain of command or law enforcement), or he/she may report the incident to the SARC or the on-call VA. Upon notification of a reported sexual assault, the SARC will immediately notify a VA. Additionally, with the victim's consent, the healthcare provider will conduct a forensic examination, which may include the collection of evidence. Details regarding the incident will be limited to only those personnel who have a legitimate need to know.

Restricted Reporting

Restricted reporting allows a Soldier who is a sexual assault victim, on a confidential basis, to disclose the details of their assault to specifically identified individuals and receive medical treatment and counseling, without triggering the official investigative process. Soldiers who are sexually assaulted and desire restricted reporting under this policy should report the assault to the SARC, VA, chaplain, or a healthcare provider.

No Report 

As a Survivor you have the option to make no report at all. Be aware that talking to others about a sexual assault may result in a third-party report which requires the command team to initiate an independent investigation. This does not apply when disclosing this information to the SARC, a VA, or a healthcare provider.

 

Resources