Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program

SAPR InfographicSexual Assault Response Coordinators and Victim Advocates are available at all Air Force installations to assist victims and survivors of sexual assault. The 120th Fighter Wing SARC serves as the single point of contact for integrating and coordinating care for sexual assault victims on base 24/7, 365 days a year.

The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program reinforces the Air Force's commitment to eliminate incidents of sexual assault through awareness and prevention training, education, victim advocacy, response, reporting and accountability.

Help is just a phone call away: If you have been sexually assaulted, please call 866-995-6506

Sexual Assault Defined

Sexual Assault is criminal conduct that falls well short of the standards America expects of its men and women in uniform and is a violation of our Air Force Core Values.

Sexual Assault is defined as intentional sexual conduct, characterized by use of force, physical threat or abuse of authority or when the victim does not or cannot consent. Sexual assault includes rape, nonconsensual sodomy (oral or anal sex), indecent assault (unwanted, inappropriate sexual contact or fondling), or attempts to commit these acts. Sexual assault can occur without regard to gender or spousal relationship or age of victim.

Consent shall not be deemed or construed to mean the failure by the victim to offer physical resistance. Consent is not given when a person uses force, threat of force, coercion or when the victim is asleep, incapacitated, or unconscious.

Reporting Options

The Air Force has instituted avenues for reporting sexual assault in the form of Restricted and Unrestricted Reporting.

Restricted Reporting allows sexual assault victims to confidentially disclose the assault to specified individuals (i.e., SARC, SAPR VA, Chaplains or healthcare personnel), and receive medical treatment, including emergency care, counseling, and assignment of a SARC and SAPR VA, without triggering an investigation. It is intended to give the victim (survivor) time and control over the release of their information. Further, it also empowers the survivor to make an informed decision about participating in the criminal process.

Restricted Reporting is available for:
- All Service members and their Dependents over the age of 18

Unrestricted Reporting is any report of sexual assault made through normal reporting channels (for example: reports to chain of command, security forces, and/or Air Force Office of Investigation). This reporting option triggers an investigation, command notification, and allows a person who has been sexually assaulted to access medical treatment and counseling.

Unrestricted Reporting is available for:
- All Service members and their Dependents over the age of 18
- DoD Civilians and their Dependents over the age of 18 (MTF access and/or serving in an OS location)
- Contractors (if supporting in a contingency location outside the continental United States)

Independent Reporting is an assault reported by someone other than the victim.

SAPR Leadership Messages

"During the last year, the Air Force has worked hard to combat sexual assault. We have invested in programmatic, educational, and resourcing efforts aimed at reinforcing a zero tolerance environment. The Air Force's mission depends on Airmen having complete trust and confidence in one another. Our core values of Integrity, Service and Excellence, define the standard. Sexual assault is absolutely inconsistent and incompatible with our core values, our mission, and our heritage. As such, our SAPR program is a priority both for ensuring readiness and taking care of our Airmen."

Deborah Lee James
Secretary of the Air Force
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"Sexual assault has no place in our Air Force. We live in a culture of respect. We cherish our core values of integrity, service and excellence. But in order to ensure all Airmen experience and benefit from those values, we must eliminate sexual assault in our ranks."

Mark A. Welsh III
General, USAF Chief of Staff
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"Sexual assault has no place in our Air Force. We will continue to provide a balance of focused education, compassionate advocacy, and accountability in order to promote dignity and respect. We remain dedicated to eliminating sexual assault and instilling confidence and care in the reporting process.."

James A. Cody
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force


SAPR Videos

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody talk on the importance of preventing sexual assault in the Air Force and Airmen taking care of one another.



The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program reinforces the Air Force's commitment to eliminate incidents of sexual assault through awareness and prevention training, education, victim advocacy, response, reporting and accountability. The Air Force promotes sensitive care and confidential reporting for victims of sexual assault and accountability for those who commit these crimes.

Sexual assault is criminal conduct. It falls well short of the standards America expects of its men and women in uniform. Specifically, it violates Air Force Core Values. Inherent in our core values of Integrity First, Service before Self, and Excellence in All We Do is respect: self-respect, mutual respect and respect for our Air Force as an institution.

Our core values and respect are the foundation of our wingman culture -- a culture in which we look out for each other and take care of each other. Incidents of sexual assault corrode the very fabric of our wingman culture; therefore, we must strive for an environment where this type of behavior is not tolerated and where all Airmen are respected.

Secretary of Defense Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention

Each April, the Department of Defense observes Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention month and commits to raising awareness and promoting the prevention of sexual violence. This year's theme, "We own it... We'll solve it... Together," emphasizes our commitment to solving the problem of sexual assault in the many ways we work within each service, across the department and in our communities to combat this issue.

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel explains the importance of working together on this effort.



Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, message to the force on Sexual Assault Awareness Month.