Sexual Assault Theater: not your normal awareness training

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jason McCasland
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  Barksdale Airmen began a new program on sexual assault awareness and prevention featuring real life scenarios with live performances by the Sexual Assault Theater Group.

According to a national study by the Department of Justice every 108 seconds a rape or sexual assault is committed. The SATG is hoping to lower those numbers by giving Airmen a new twist on raising awareness.

"We (military members) have all had sexual assault training, whether it's the 'death by PowerPoint,' mass briefings or individual office training," said Staff Sgt. Michael Williams, SATG actor. "This new type of briefing helps us to make the same 'old' training more effective to Airmen. The scenes SATG acts out are more real to [Airmen] than information on a slide during a briefing. It also allows us as characters to promote discussions from Airmen."

SATG actors aren't the only ones who believe in the new training; Airmen like Airman 1st Class Joanna Barnette, 2nd Logistics Readiness Squadron, left the briefing talking about what she had seen.

"This was a lot more interesting than what we are used to," Barnette said. "Normal briefings over such a serious subject are hard to sit through, this kept us not only entertained but informed, about real life situations and gave us something to think and talk about."

The skits are not meant to give humor to serious subject, but add a shock value to something that can affect so many people.

"These short skits are all situations Airmen could encounter both on and off base," said Harmony Miscisin, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response intern. "For some, it's shocking to see what can happen to a person. The shock value helps to not only prevent these situations, but lets them see how they could prevent something happening to their friends."

For more information on the SATG or to become an actor contact Staff Sgt. Michael Williams at 456-7538.