14 Mar 05: Unit Victim Advocate
ALARACT_3.doc (36 KB)

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE
R 141736Z MAR 05
FM DA WASHINGTON DC//DAPE//
TO ALARACT
ZEN/ALARACT @ AL ALARACT(UC)
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UNCLAS ALARACT 058/2005
SUBJECT: UNIT VICTIM ADVOCATE (UVA) -- ARMY SEXUAL ASSAULT
PREVENTION AND RESPONSE (SAPR) PROGRAM.

REFERENCES
A. THE ACTING SECRETARY OF THE ARMY'S TASK FORCE REPORT ON SEXUAL ASSAULT POLICIES, MAY 27, 2004.

B. SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE PROGRAM ACTION PLAN, AUGUST 19, 2004.

C. ALARACT 176/2004, SUBJECT: INTERIM GUIDANCE, ARMY SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE PROGRAM, 122030Z NOV 04

D. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, DIRECTIVE-TYPE MEMORANDUM (DTM), (JTF-SAPR-008), SUBJECT: RESPONSE CAPABILITY FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT, DECEMBER 17, 2004.

1. ON 19 AUGUST 2004, THE ACTING SECRETARY OF THE ARMY APPROVED THE SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE PROGRAM ACTION PLAN AND DIRECTED THAT IT BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGHOUT THE ARMY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE KEY COMPONENT TO THIS PLAN IS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIM ADVOCACY PROGRAM.

2. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MESSAGE IS TO ESTABLISH IMMEDIATE ACTIONS FOR ALL ARMY ACTIVITIES TO FOLLOW IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THE ARMY'S UNIT VICTIM ADVOCACY (UVA) PROGRAM. THIS GUIDANCE WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL THE NEXT REVISION OF AR 600-20 (ARMY COMMAND POLICY) IS PUBLISHED LATER IN FY 2005. CHAPTER 8 OF THE REVISED AR 600-20 WILL DETAIL ALL REQUIREMENTS, ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE VICTIM ADVOCACY PROGRAM AS PART OF THE ARMY'S SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE PROGRAM.

3. THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ESTABLISHED THE NAME "VICTIM ADVOCATE" AS A STANDARD TERM FOR ALL SERVICES TO USE TO DESCRIBE AN INDIVIDUAL (MILITARY, CIVILIAN, OR CONTRACTOR) WHO IS TRAINED TO RESPOND TO EACH REPORT OF SEXUAL ASSAULT BY PROVIDING ADVOCACY SUPPORT TO VICTIMS. THE ADVOCATE CAN PROVIDE CRISIS INTERVENTION, REFERRAL AND ONGOING NON-CLINICAL SUPPORT TO THE VICTIM OF A SEXUAL ASSAULT. THIS INCLUDES PROVIDING INFORMATION ON AVAILABLE OPTIONS AND RESOURCES SO THE VICTIMS CAN MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR CASES. THE ADVOCATE SHALL ENSURE THE INFORMATION PROVIDED TO THE VICTIM OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IS ACCURATE AND COMPREHENSIVE AND WILL ACCOMPANY THE VICTIM, AT THE VICTIM'S REQUEST DURING INVESTIGATIVE INTERVIEWS AND MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS. THE ADVOCATE SERVICES SHOULD CONTINUE UNTIL THE VICTIMS STATE OR IDENTIFY THAT THEY NO LONGER NEED THE SUPPORT.

4. THE NAME UNIT VICTIM ADVOCATE (UVA) REFERS TO A SOLDIER, TRAINED AS A SEXUAL ASSAULT "VICTIM ADVOCATE" AND APPOINTED, ON COLLATERAL DUTY AS A UVA, TO A BATTALION OR EQUIVALENT ARMY UNIT. UVAS ARE CRITICAL TO ENSURING TIMELY AND APPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT.

A. TRAINING FOR UVAS WILL BE CONDUCTED IN TWO PHASES. THE FIRST PHASE WILL INCLUDE TRAINING AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS: USAREUR, EUSA, USARPAC, FORT LEWIS, FORT CARSON, AND FORT BRAGG. THIS UVA TRAINING WILL BE CONDUCTED BY A MOBILE TRAINING TEAM (MTT) LED BY THE COMMUNITY AND FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER (CFSC). SPECIFIC TIMES, DATES, REQUIRED ATTENDEES, AND LOCATIONS FOR THIS UVA TRAINING WILL BE COORDINATED DIRECTLY WITH AFFECTED UNITS BY CFSC.

B. COMMANDERS AT BATTALION LEVEL AND ABOVE WILL APPOINT, ON COLLATERAL DUTY, A MINIMUM OF TWO SOLDIERS TO SERVE AS UNIT VICTIM ADVOCATES (UVAS). INSTALLATION COMMANDERS WILL ENSURE UVA SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE, AS NEEDED, FOR THOSE SEPARATE ARMY UNITS SMALLER THAN BATTALION LEVEL THAT ARE STATIONED ON/NEAR THE INSTALLATIONS. COMMANDERS WILL SELECT QUALIFIED OFFICERS OR NCO FOR DUTY AS UVA IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 6 OF THIS MESSAGE.

C. THE UVA TRAINING CURRICULUM WILL COVER TOPICS RANGING FROM POLICY DEFINITIONS, TYPES OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, PREVENTION EFFORTS, REACTION OF VICTIMS, DEPLOYMENT ISSUES, FORENSIC PROTOCOLS, VICTIM SAFETY, COMMUNICATION SKILLS, JUDICIAL PROCESS, DATA COLLECTION AND DUTIES OF THE UVA.

D. THE UVAS SHOULD NOT BEGIN RESPONDING TO SEXUAL ASSAULTS UNTIL THEY RECEIVE INITIAL TRAINING. COMMANDERS SHOULD ENSURE THAT SEXUALLY ASSAULTED VICTIMS ARE REFERRED TO AVAILABLE INSTALLATION RESOURCES SUCH AS FAMILY ADVOCACY PROGRAM OFFICE, THE MEDICAL TREATMENT FACILITY, CID OR MILITARY POLICE. WHEN THE UVAS ARE TRAINED THEY WILL BECOME AN ADDITIONAL RESPONSE ASSET AVAILABLE TO THE COMMANDER.

5. THE SECOND PHASE OF TRAINING FOR UVAS AT ALL OTHER LOCATIONS AND MACOMS WILL BE CONDUCTED BY THE INSTALLATION SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE COORDINATOR (SARC).

A. COMMANDERS SHOULD BEGIN TO IDENTIFY THESE UVAS IN ANTICIPATION OF THIS LOCAL TRAINING. TIMES AND LOCATIONS FOR THIS UVA TRAINING WILL BE ANNOUNCED THROUGH THE COMMUNITY AND FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER AND INSTALLATION SARC.
B. TRAINING FOR DEPLOYED UNITS WILL BE ADDRESSED IN A SEPARATE MESSAGE.

6. BECAUSE OF THE SENSITIVITY AND COMPLEXITY OF WORKING WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS, UVAS MUST BE CAREFULLY SELECTED. UVAS ARE LIKELY TO BECOME INVOLVED IN HIGHLY CHARGED, EMOTIONALLY STRESSFUL SITUATIONS IN ASSISTING VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. AS A RESULT, ALL CANDIDATES MUST BE PROPERLY SCREENED AND COMPLETE TRAINING IN RESPONDING APPROPRIATELY TO VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. THE UVA MUST HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED REQUIRED TRAINING PRIOR TO ASSUMING RESPONSIBILITY WITHIN THE UNIT. THE UVAS WILL BE SELECTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS:

A. BE RECOMMENDED BY THE CHAIN OF COMMAND. THE FIRST LTC OR BATTALION LEVEL EQUIVALENT COMMANDER, IN THE CHAIN OF COMMAND, WILL APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATION.

B. BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO A SEXUAL ASSAULT INCIDENT AT ANYTIME WHEN ON CALL.

C. HAVE OUTSTANDING DUTY PERFORMANCE, AS EVIDENCED BY A REVIEW OF THE INDIVIDUAL'S EVALUATION REPORTS.

D. DEMONSTRATE STABILITY IN PERSONAL AFFAIRS. SOLDIER WILL NOT HAVE A RECENT HISTORY (WITHIN THE PAST FIVE YEARS) OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SIGNIFICANT INDEBTEDNESS, EXCESSIVE USE OF ALCOHOL, OR ANY USE OF ILLEGAL DRUGS.

E. BE REQUIRED TO OBTAIN A WAIVER FROM HQDA IN INSTANCES WHERE INDIVIDUALS HAVE WITHDRAWN FROM THE HUMAN RELIABILITY OR PERSONNEL RELIABILITY PROGRAM DURING THE TWO YEARS PRECEDING THE NOMINATION.

F. MUST NOT HAVE BEEN PUNISHED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE UCMJ DURING THE 5 YEARS PRECEDING THE NOMINATION.

G. MUST HAVE A MINIMUM OF TWO YEARS OF SERVICE REMAINING.

H. MUST BE DEPLOYABLE (IF ASSIGNED TO A DEPLOYING UNIT) WITH A MINIMUM OF ONE YEAR REMAINING IN THE UNIT (SIX MONTHS IF ON A SHORT TOUR).

I. MUST HAVE ACHIEVED THE RANK OF SSG OR HIGHER, OR 1LT OR HIGHER.

J. MUST BE APPOINTED ON ORDERS TO THE COLLATERAL DUTY OF UVA.

7. THE DUTIES OF THE UNIT VICTIM ADVOCATE (UVA) INCLUDE:

A. AS NEEDED, PROVIDE TO VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, CRISIS INTERVENTION, REFERRAL, AND ONGOING NON-CLINICAL SUPPORT. IN THE CASE OF MULTIPLE VICTIMS, EACH VICTIM SHOULD HAVE A DIFFERENT UVA. THE VICTIM ALONE WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO ACCEPT THE OFFER OF UVA SERVICES.
B. COORDINATE, AS REQUIRED, DIRECTLY WITH THE INSTALLATION SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE COORDINATOR (SARC) AT THE FAMILY ADVOCACY PROGRAM (FAP) OFFICE OR THE SENIOR MISSION COMMANDER'S DESIGNATED COORDINATOR IN A DEPLOYED ENVIRONMENT. IN A DEPLOYED ENVIRONMENT, THE SENIOR UVA ASSIGNED TO THE BRIGADE LEVEL OR HIGHER WILL FUNCTION AS THE SARC.

C. INFORM VICTIMS OF THE OPTIONS TO USE SERVICE PROVIDERS (E.G., MEDICAL, LEGAL, AND CHAPLAIN) AND OTHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO VICTIMS. ENSURE GUIDANCE PROVIDED TO THE VICTIM OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IS ACCURATE AND COMPREHENSIVE.

D. PROVIDE INITIAL INFORMATION TO THE VICTIMS ON THEIR RIGHTS, INCLUDING THEIR RIGHT TO REFUSE SERVICES AND THE SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE ADVOCATE'S ROLE.

E. SAFEGUARD DOCUMENTS PERTAINING TO SEXUAL ASSAULT INCIDENTS WHILE IN THE POSSESSION OF THE UVA AND PROTECTING INFORMATION THAT IS CASE RELATED.

F. PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THE VICTIM THROUGHOUT THE MEDICAL, INVESTIGATIVE, AND JUDICIAL PROCESS; HOWEVER, A VICTIM MAY OPT TO SEEK ASSISTANCE WITHOUT THE PRESENCE OR ASSISTANCE OF THE UVA. THE UVA WILL EXERCISE SENSITIVITY WITH REGARD TO THE VICTIM AT ALL TIMES, BUT WILL NOT COUNSEL THE VICTIM. THE ADVOCATE WILL ACCOMPANY THE VICTIM, AT THE VICTIM'S REQUEST, DURING INVESTIGATIVE INTERVIEWS AND MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS. THE ADVOCATE'S MISSION IS TO SUPPORT, ASSIST AND GUIDE THE VICTIM THROUGH THE PROCESS. THE ADVOCATE IS NOT TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR THE VICTIM OR TO SPEAK FOR THE VICTIM, OR TO INTERFERE WITH THE LEGITIMATE OPERATIONS OF MEDICAL, INVESTIGATIVE AND JUDICIAL PROCESSES.

G. MEET STANDARDS FOR SELECTION AND ATTEND ANNUAL AND ONGOING TRAINING.

H. COMPLETE REQUIRED REPORTS ON INCIDENTS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT THAT WILL INCLUDE REFERRALS TO VICTIM SERVICES.

I. SERVE IN A COLLATERAL DUTY CAPACITY.

J. DEPLOY WITH THE UNIT.

8. POINTS OF CONTACT.

A. POINT OF CONTACT (POC) AT THE COMMUNITY FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER (CFSC) IS LTC MARY DOOLEY-BERNARD, (703) 681-7393;
MARY.DOOLEY-BERNARD@CFSC.ARMY.MIL.

B. THE HQDA G-1 POC FOR THE ARMY SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE PROGRAM IS LTC CARLA REED (703) 696-5453;
CARLA.REED@US.ARMY.MIL.

9. EXPIRATION DATE CANNOT BE DETERMINED.
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE