Barksdale supports National Domestic Violence Awareness Month

  • Published
  • By 2d Lt. Victoria Lalich
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  Col. Timothy Fay, 2nd Bomb Wing commander, signed a formal proclamation Oct. 8 directing Barksdale Airmen to support October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The proclamation displays Barksdale's commitment to the safety, health and wellness of its families and community.

Throughout the month, the Family Advocacy center has several information booths and activities planned to help members of the 2nd Bomb Wing, Air Force Global Strike Command and the 917th Air Reserve Wing to increase their awareness to the dangerous patterns of abusive behaviors including physical, emotional and psychological attacks, which may frequent unhealthy relationships.

The National Domestic Violence Awareness Month Web site states "To stop domestic violence, we all need to be part of the solution." Here at Barksdale, the Family Advocacy center plays a key role in helping local families recognize the symptoms of unhealthy relationships and offer support and counseling options for those seeking help.

"These situations are frequently caused by stress: something that is no stranger to military members," said Russell Cook, 2nd Medical Operations Squadron family advocacy outreach manager. "At Barksdale, we work unusually long hours. We come home expecting to relax and forget about the difficult day we've had, but we forget that our spouse wants to spend some of that time with us. We get irritated at something they say and may respond negatively, and then the situation spirals out of control."

According to the DVAM Web site, women are more likely to be victims of physical abuse, while men are more likely to be victims of emotional abuse. Unfortunately, neither is likely to seek help for these issues.

"Managing these situations is one of Family Advocacy's specialties," Mr. Cook said. Located on the third floor of the Barksdale Clinic, Family Advocacy offers a variety of walk-in counseling options and classes free for all Airmen and their families--and all are confidential.

"One of the biggest reasons people don't come in is that they are worried we are going to talk to their commander or first sergeant, but that just isn't the case," said Mr. Cook. "Obviously, we prefer for Airmen to take advantage of our privileged communication before things at home get out of hand. Think about it, if the situation gets bad enough and security forces are called, your commander will definitely be notified."

Besides helping with relationships, Family Advocacy also offers counseling for those struggling with alcohol or suicidal thoughts and even classes on anger management, he added. There is a class running this month and more planned for upcoming months.
"If you feel like there's an issue," Mr. Cook concluded, "Come talk to us. We can help you work it out."

For more information, contact the Family Advocacy Center by calling 456-6595 or by visiting their facilities on the third floor of the base clinic.