Courage to Speak Up

Photo By Kristyn Galvan | A Marine at the Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow holding a pad that says "Thank you...... read more read more

Photo By Kristyn Galvan | A Marine at the Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow holding a pad that says "Thank you for believing me." The pad also has the Department of Defense's Safe Helpline contact info. This was in support of Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.  see less | View Image Page

BARSTOW, CA, UNITED STATES

04.29.2024

Story by Vanessa Schell 

Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow

✔ ✗ Subscribe

7

Collaborating this month for Child Abuse and Sexual Assault Prevention month, Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow’s Behavioral Health Family Advocacy Program and Sexual Assault Prevent and Response Program brought in two guest speakers to share their experiences with forty Marines and civilian personnel at the Maj. Gen. James L. Day conference center on base, April 17. Also supporting the effort were MCLB Barstow’s Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, Suzanna Weston and SAPR Uniformed Victim Advocate, Gunnery Sgt. Richard McGriff.
Ami M.S. Davis, originally from the High Desert, traveled from San Diego to share their history of child abuse, sexual assault and trauma, as well as prevention and self-care.
“We often misuse the term ‘trauma’; it doesn't always occur due to stress, because stress can be positive. Positive and tolerable stress create resilience. Toxic stress creates trauma,” Davis explains, before guiding the group through designing an imaginary unicorn. The exercise activates the pre-frontal cortex, a portion of the brain responsible for emotional regulation and is often underdeveloped in child abuse victims.
“Taking care of yourself can prevent you from potentially harming others. We have a lot of influence on the people around us. We aren’t thinkers, we are feelers who like to think that we think,” continued Davis. “Asking ‘what’s wrong’ implies there is something wrong with someone. Instead, actively, intentionally connect with people. Ask ‘what’s going on, what’s happening with you?’ Give them the coping skills, because trauma changes the way that you behave.”
Also traveling from within California, second guest speaker Jane shared the tragic story of her sexual assault as a child, and the strange lack of reaction from her father whom she immediately told afterwards. She also noted her parents’ refusal to discuss the SA further with her, until she intentionally went to them later asking for details.
“I’ll never be okay with myself if I don’t do everything in my power to deal with this,” Jane explained to her initially hesitant father who had been a Marine, when she made the difficult decision to sue her assaulter “Until I go through this all the way, it’s going to be like a 50-pound backpack I have to carry around all the time and I don’t want to do that.”
Jane won her suit without seeing or talking to her assaulter, but it was not about money, it was about healing and being brave.
“A spiritual warrior is someone who steps into vulnerability. True bravery is being scared, but not turning that off, not turning into a rock, and doing it anyway,” she said. “I will be completely out of control, I will surrender. I will step into vulnerability. That is a warrior.”
“I hope that the guest speakers empowered Marines and the community at large to report child abuse and sexual assault and to seek out support and services so that they can make informed decisions on their care,” said Michelle Adams, Behavioral Health office manager, Family Advocacy Program Prevention and Education Specialist, and Victim Advocate. “We want to create a community that doesn’t fear abuse, but instead addresses it head-on by speaking out and taking a stand to bring sexual assault to the forefront and hold abusers accountable.”
“The wonderful thing about the SAPR Program and its reporting options is that the victim is always in control of the process,” Weston said, MCLB Barstow’s SARC, who has been a SA victim advocate for the Marine Corps for more than a decade. “Next steps will vary widely, based on the type of report, jurisdiction, and follow-on investigation and adjudication. However, the goal is always to serve the needs of the victim in the moment.”
“Sexual assault is the most underreported crime,” said Weston. “The SAPR program encourages reporting, both restricted and unrestricted, to serve the needs of the victim and the interest of the Marine Corps. It is vital the victims understand that they are never to blame and that they are never alone. SAPR offers a variety of reporting options and resource to ensure that each and every victim is served and empowered.”

On a payback tour working within BH, McGriff has a passion for helping others and has been the SAPR UVA for more than a year. He proposed a multi-faceted approach to address the large number of unreported sexual assaults.

“Create a safe environment. Education and training. Accountability. Leadership involvement.” And finally, “Consult your SAPR. Your SAPR is here to help and has the connection to those who can help when they don’t have the capacity. Use them, use them, use them," said McGriff.

“It’s courageous to speak up about such a difficult experience. Reporting can help you seek justice, support others and start the healing process. Your voice matters and you deserve to be heard and supported. Semper Fi,” said Gunnery Sgt. McGriff.

“It is important to realize that not only during the month of April is this an important topic to address,” Adams concluded, “but every day throughout the year it is important to stand up and come together as one team and one fight against abuse.”

For those who wish to make a report of a sexual assault, or even just speak with a confidential resource about options, help is always available via the MCLBB 24/7 Sexual Assault Support Line at 760-577-6036. Additional resources are also available by calling the DoD Safe Helpline at (877) 995-5247.
BH Main Line at: 760-577-6533
24/7 Support Line for SAPR at 760-577-6036
FAP 24/7 Helpline for Domestic and Child Abuse at: 760-577-6484
To respect the anonymity of the second guest speaker, she is referred to as “Jane” throughout this article.