Moody hosts first ever SARC exercise

  • Published
  • By Airman Alexis Grotz
  • 23d Wing Public Affairs
Moody Air Force Base, Ga. --  There were only a few people who were aware of the first ever sexual assault exercise when it occurred at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., March 15, 2013.

Since only a few people knew about the exercise, first sergeants, commanders and many others experienced the most realistic exercise possible.

The exercise involved two different scenarios. The first started off at 5 a.m. with a phone call to the first victim's first sergeant. The second scenario took place a few hours later at about 9 a.m. again with a phone call to a different first sergeant.

Unaware the victims and perpetrators were acting and were not actually assaulted made the exercise very realistic. U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Eugene Quigley, 723d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron assistant first sergeant, was one of three first sergeants involved in the exercise.

"Not knowing it was an exercise put a lot of stress on us," said Quigley. "It was a good test to see what we are actually capable of doing."

As real as this was for the people who had no idea it was an exercise, the role players also got to experience what it was like to be a part of something so realistic.

Airman 1st Class Dillion Donahoe, 41st Rescue Squadron crew chief, played the role of a perpetrator in one of the two scenarios.

"It was very real: getting handcuffed by security forces, taken to [Air Force Office of Special Investigations], being interrogated, having to get medically processed by the medical group," said Donahoe. "It was stressful and extremely nerve-racking."

As the first SARC exercise to be done and kept secret, there were a lot of learning experiences. Frances Elmore, SARC for Moody, was aware of the exercise and prepared to help.

"We had chosen first sergeants who have never responded to an actual sexual assault incident," said Elmore. "Their responses were appropriate, however having never done this before they questioned what to do and how to handle the situation correctly."

As with all learning experiences, there were both ups and downs during the exercise. Role players and perpetrators were challenged mentally while they attempted to stay in character.

This type of exercise generated awareness within the wing, and helped Moody gauge how well its Airmen handle sexual assault cases.

"The exercise was very beneficial to all parties involved," said Elmore. "The victim and perpetrator got a feel for what a real victim and perpetrator would have to endure."

At the end of the exercise, the first sergeants were confused when the Plans and Programs officer walked in the room to talk about what had happened. After finding out that what they had believed to be a real world situation was simply an exercise, relief came across their faces.

"The relief on the first sergeants faces once they realized it was an exercise was amazing," said Elmore. "Although they wished they would have know it wasn't a real world situation, them not knowing is what made the exercise a success."

With any sexual assault, it is important to refer victims to SARC as soon as possible. The SARC phone number for Moody is 229-257-7272 or 229-257-SARC. Sexual assault is extremely serious and even though this was an exercise, the results will help to better not only the base, but other bases and reinforce the strength of the Air Force.