Sexual Assault Awareness Month: AFOSI’s Perspective Published April 18, 2014 By SA Andrea O'Connor AFOSI POPE ARMY AIRFIELD, FORT BRAGG, N.C. -- Sexual assault is a problem that affects our entire society, especially our Air Force. The Air Force Office of Special Investigations' role in combating sexual assault includes conducting thorough investigations seeking the truth and providing commanders and the legal team with information to help them make decisions and take appropriate legal action. Unlike the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator and Chaplain's Office, which offer confidentiality and restricted reporting to individuals who have experienced a sexual assault, AFOSI is a law enforcement agency and a mandatory reporter. This means AFOSI must investigate any allegation of sexual assault that would come to our attention. While the idea of having to speak with someone about such an event can be daunting, please know AFOSI takes pride in treating individuals who report sexual assault with compassion and respect. We work closely with the SARC, the Chaplain, the Legal Office and other helping agencies in this regard. While there are many understandable reasons why an individual may wish to cope with sexual assault trauma without involving others, please consider the following: often times the path to recovery comes from seeking justice and ensuring an offender is no longer able to inflict pain upon others. Many times AFOSI receives information about sexual assaults in which we later find out the offender had past victims who did not speak up. Additionally, we are finding that the offender is left out there to offend again putting other Air Force members at risk. Providing a statement to AFOSI ensures there is a lasting record, which cannot be diminished by passage of time. For many individuals, being part of the investigative process and seeking justice is one powerful step towards recovery. On a practical, positive note, there have been advances in forensic science and technology, which allow us to collect evidence in increasingly sophisticated manners. If you know or suspect you have been sexually assaulted, please DO NOT destroy, wash, or discard items of clothing or bedding you have in your possession. Also, please note that working with either AFOSI and/or the SARC to accomplish a sexual assault examination kit can be one of the single most useful items available to successfully document, investigate and prosecute the crime. If you have any questions about AFOSI's investigative process or our organization in general, please do not hesitate to stop by AFOSI Detachment 216 which covers all of Eastern North Carolina to include Seymour Johnson AFB and Pope Army Airfield at Bldg. 5006 on Guardian Road, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C. or call us anytime at 919-722-1218.