Virginia Beach, Virginia –
The Virginia National Guard hosted more than two dozen Airmen, Soldiers and civilians from the Virginia, West Virginia and Delaware National Guard for a Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Victim Advocate refresher training course Aug. 10-14, 2020, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The 32-hour training focused on victim advocacy, prevention and ethics and featured guest speakers from local, state and national agencies.
“The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response refresher training is designed to keep the victim’s advocate updated to all the new resources’ and most up-to-date laws that will provide the most professional support to survivors of sexual assault,” explained Henry Motley, the Virginia National Guard Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Coordinator.
The training increases and reinforces victim advocates’ knowledge of military and state resources such as victim witness protection programs, expedited transfer, retaliation and special victim counsel, in order for them to provide non-clinical professional support for a survivor of sexual trauma.
“Sexual Assault is a crime that degrades mission, destroys unit cohesion and harms our fellow military members,” Motley said. “Each one of us can play our part in sexual assault prevention,” Motley said. “When we see sexual aggressors who intend to harm others, speak up, get help and do not allow your brother or sister to be harmed.”