16 May 05: Requirements for Appointing Unit Victim Adovcates
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UNCLAS ALARACT 099/2005 SECTION 1 OF 2
SUBJ: SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE (SAPR) PROGRAM

REFERENCES

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

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

C. ALARACT 058/2005, SUBJECT: UNIT VICTIM ADVOCATE (UVA) -- ARMY SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE (SAPR) PROGRAM, 141736Z MAR 05

  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.
  2. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MESSAGE IS TO CLARIFY REQUIREMENTS FOR APPOINTING UNIT VICTIM ADVOCATES (UVA) AND TO ESTABLISH IMMEDIATE ACTIONS FOR ALL BRIGADE AND HIGHER LEVEL UNITS TO TAKE IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THE NEXT ELEMENT OF THE SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE PROGRAM DEPLOYABLE SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE COORDINATORS. 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 ARMY S SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE PROGRAM.
  3. REFERENCE C DIRECTED ALL ARMY ACTIVITIES TO APPOINT TWO UNIT VICTIM ADVOCATES (UVAS) FOR EACH BATTALION LEVEL UNIT.
    1. THIS MESSAGE AUTHORIZES THE FIRST COLONEL IN THE CHAIN OF COMMAND TO APPROVE APPOINTING ONLY ONE UVA FOR BATTALIONS WHOSE SMALL POPULATIONS MAY NOT WARRANT TWO UVAS. COMMANDERS AT ANY LEVEL MAY APPOINT MORE THAN THE PRESCRIBED NUMBER OF UVAS. THIS MAY BE NECESSARY FOR VERY LARGE BATTALIONS OR UNITS OF ANY SIZE WHOSE GEOGRAPHICAL DISPERSION WARRANTS APPOINTING MORE UVAS.
    2. THIS MESSAGE ALSO AUTHORIZES THE APPOINTMENT OF DA CIVILIANS IN THE GRADE OF GS-9 OR HIGHER ASSIGNED TO UNITS TO PERFORM DUTIES AS UVAS. THIS MAY BE NECESSARY IN UNITS WITH SMALL MILITARY POPULATIONS. ALL UVAS (MILITARY AND CIVILIAN) ARE STILL REQUIRED TO DEPLOY WITH THEIR UNIT IF THEY BELONG TO A DEPLOYABLE UNIT. APPOINTMENT OF GS EMPLOYEES TO UVA POSITIONS MAY REQUIRE MANAGEMENT TO CONSULT WITH THEIR UNIONS PURSUANT TO THEIR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT.
  4. THERE ARE THREE ECHELONS OF SEXUAL ASSUALT VICTIM ADVOCACY IN THE ARMY S PROGRAM IN GARRISON.
    1. THE INSTALLATION SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE COORDINATOR (SARC) IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COORDINATING THE LOCAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM.
    2. INSTALLATION VICTIM ADVOCATES WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE INSTALLATION SARC, VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, UNIT VICTIM ADVOCATES, AND OTHER INSTALLATION RESPONSE AGENCIES.
    3. UNIT VICTIM ADVOCATES (UVA) ARE SOLDIERS/CIVILIANS WHO ARE TRAINED TO PROVIDE LIMITED VICTIM ADVOCACY AS A COLLATERAL DUTY.
  5. IN A DEPLOYED ENVIRONMENT, THERE ARE TWO ECHELONS OF VICTIM ADVOCACY.

    1. DEPLOYABLE SARCS WHO ARE SOLDIERS/CIVILIANS TRAINED AND RESPONSIBLE FOR COORDINATING THE SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE PROGRAM AS A COLLATERAL DUTY IN A SPECIFIED AREA OF A DEPLOYED THEATER.
    2. UNIT VICTIM ADVOCATES (UVA) WHO ARE SOLDIERS/CIVILIANS TRAINED TO PROVIDE LIMITED VICTIM ADVOCACY AS A COLLATERAL DUTY.
  6. THIS PARAGRAPH PROVIDES DETAILS FOR APPOINTING AND TRAINING DEPLOYABLE SARCS.

    1. COMMANDERS AT BRIGADE LEVEL AND HIGHER ECHELONS (DIVISION, CORPS, AND ARMY COMPONENT COMMAND) WILL IMMEDIATELY APPOINT, ON COLLATERAL DUTY, A MINIMUM OF ONE SOLDIER/CIVILAIN TO SERVE AS THE COMMAND S DEPLOYABLE SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE COORDINATOR (SARC). COMMANDERS WILL SELECT QUALIFIED PERSONNEL FOR DUTY AS DEPLOYABLE SARC IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 7 OF THIS MESSAGE.
    2. DEPLOYABLE SARCS SHOULD NOT BEGIN RESPONDING TO SEXUAL ASSAULTS UNTIL THEY RECEIVE TRAINING. INITIAL TRAINING FOR DEPLOYABLE SARCS WILL OCCUR THROUGH ONE OF THE FOLLOWING METHODS.
      1. FROM THE INSTALLATION SARC. THIS IS THE PRIMARY METHOD FOR TRAINING DEPLOYABLE SARCS. THIS TRAINING SHOULD OCCUR AS SOON AS INSTALLATION SARCS ARE IN PLACE AND OPERATIONAL, BUT NOT LATER THAN 30 JUNE 2005 FOR ALL ACTIVE COMPONENT UNITS.
      2. BY A MOBILE TRAINING TEAM (MTT) IN THE CENTCOM AOR. DEPLOYABLE SARCS ASSIGNED TO UNITS ALREADY IN THE CENTCOM AOR WILL RECEIVE TRAINING BY A MOBILE TRAINING TEAM AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS DURING MAY AND JUNE. SPECIFIC DATES AND LOCATIONS HAVE BEEN COORDINATED BETWEEN CFSC AND ARCENT.
      3. BY SPECIAL REQUEST OF UNITS SCHEDULED TO DEPLOY THAT WILL NOT BE IN THE CENTCOM AOR PRIOR TO THE MTT TRAINING CITED ABOVE. UNITS THAT ARE IN THIS CATEGORY AND ARE UNABLE TO HAVE THEIR DEPLOYABLE SARCS TRAINED USING ANY OF THE METHODS LISTED ABOVE SHOULD CONTACT THE CFSC POC AT THE END OF THIS MESSAGE TO COORDINATE A SPECIAL MTT.
      4. DURING DOD SPONSORED SARC TRAINING CONFERENCES SCHEDULED FOR THE FOLLOWING DATES AND LOCATIONS: 28 JUN 1 JUL (CHARLOTTE, NC); 12-15 JUL (SAN DIEGO, CA); 19-22 JUL (HAWAII); 27-30 SEP (ATLANTA, GA). PRIORITY FOR ATTENDANCE AT THESE SESSIONS WILL BE GIVEN TO RESERVE COMPONENT UNITS. ALL INSTALLATION SARCS, AND AS MANY ACTIVE COMPONENT DEPLOYABLE SARCS AS CAN BE ACCOMMODATED, MAY ALSO ATTEND THESE JOINT SERVICE EVENTS AS ADDITIONAL TRAINING. SPECIFIC COORDINATING INSTRUCTIONS ARE BEING WORKED WITH DOD BY THE ARMY COMMUNITY AND FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER (CFSC). UNITS SHOULD CONTACT THE CFSC POC AT THE END OF THIS MESSAGE TO SCHEDULE DEPLOYABLE SARC ATTENDANCE AT ANY OF THESE SESSIONS.
  7. BECAUSE OF THE SENSITIVITY AND COMPLEXITY OF WORKING WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS, THE DEPLOYABLE SARC MUST BE CAREFULLY SELECTED. THESE SOLDIERS/CIVILIANS 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. DEPLOYABLE SARCS WILL BE SELECTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS
    1. BE RECOMMENDED BY THE CHAIN OF COMMAND. THE FIRST LTC OR BATTALION LEVEL EQUIVALENT OR HIGHER-LEVEL IN THE CHAIN OF COMMAND WILL APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATION.
    2. BE DEPLOYABLE.
    3. BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO A SEXUAL ASSAULT INCIDENT AT ANYTIME WHEN ON CALL.

    4. HAVE OUTSTANDING DUTY PERFORMANCE, AS EVIDENCED BY A REVIEW OF THE INDIVIDUAL S EVALUATION REPORTS.
    5. DEMONSTRATE STABILITY IN PERSONAL AFFAIRS. SOLDIER WILL NOT HAVE A RECENT HISTORY OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR SEVERE PERSONAL PROBLEMS INCLUDING SIGNIFICANT INDEBTEDNESS, EXCESSIVE USE OF ALCOHOL, OR ANY USE OF ILLEGAL DRUGS.
    6. BE REQUIRED TO OBTAIN A WAIVER FROM HQDA IN INSTANCES WHERE INDIVIDUALS HAVE WITHDRAWN FROM THE HUMAN RELIABILITY OR PERSONAL RELIABILITY PROGRAM DURING THE 2 YEARS PRECEDING THE NOMINATION.
    7. MUST NOT HAVE BEEN PUNISHED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE UCMJ DURING THE 5 YEARS PRECEDING THE NOMINATION.
    8. MUST BE DEPLOYABLE WITH A MINIMUM OF 1 YEAR RETAINABILITY IN THE UNIT. FOR SHORT TOUR AREAS, MUST HAVE A MINIMUM OF 6 MONTHS RETAINABILITY IN THE UNIT. THIS REQUIREMENT IS NON-WAIVERABLE.
    9. THE DEPLOYABLE SARC WILL BE AN NCO (SFC OR HIGHER), AN OFFICER (MAJ/CW3 OR HIGHER), OR A CIVILIAN (GS-11 OR HIGHER). APPOINTMENT OF GS EMPLOYEES TO DEPLOYABLE SARC POSITIONS MAY REQUIRE MANAGEMENT TO CONSULT WITH THEIR UNIONS PURSUANT TO THEIR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT.
    10. MUST BE APPOINTED ON ORDERS TO THE COLLATERAL DUTY OF DEPLOYABLE SARC.
    11. MUST BE AVAILABLE TO ATTEND THE SEXUAL ASSAULT REVIEW BOARD (SARB) AS REQUIRED WHEN SERVING AT THE INSTALLATION.
    12. MUST COMPLETE CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
  8. THE DUTIES OF THE DEPLOYABLE SARC INCLUDE:

    1. ENSURE OVERALL MANAGEMENT OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS, PREVENTION, TRAINING, AND VICTIM ADVOCACY.
    2. SERVE AS THE DESIGNATED PROGRAM MANAGER OF VICTIM SUPPORT SERVICES WHO COORDINATES AND OVERSEES IMPLEMENTATION AND EXECUTION OF THE SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE PROGRAM.
    3. BE TRAINED BY THE INSTALLATION SARC PRIOR TO ASSUMING DUTY. BRIGADE/UNIT OF ACTION OR HIGHER SARC MUST MAINTAIN A LIAISON WITH THE INSTALLATION SARC IN GARRISON SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THE INSTALLATION S PROCESS AND PROCEDURE FOR PROVIDING SERVICES.
    4. ADVISE THE VICTIM OF THEIR OPTIONS FOR RESTRICTED AND UNRESTRICTED REPORTING. ENSURE VICTIM ACKNOWLEDGES IN WRITING HIS/HER PREFERENCE FOR RESTRICTED OR UNRESTRICTED REPORTING. IF THE VICTIM CHOOSES THE RESTRICTED REPORTING OPTION, THE VICTIM MUST ACKNOWLEDGE IN WRITING THAT THEY UNDERSTAND RESTRICTED REPORTING MAY LIMIT THE ABILITY OF THE ARMY TO PROSECUTE THE ASSAILANT AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHY ARMY POLICY FAVORS UNRESTRICTED REPORTING.
      1. IF THE VICTIM CHOOSES THE RESTRICTED REPORTING OPTION, ENSURE THE VICTIM IS TAKEN TO A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IN LIEU OF REPORTING THE INCIDENT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OR CHAIN OF COMMAND.
      2. IF THE VICTIM CHOOSES THE UNRESTRICTED REPORTING OPTION, SARC WILL IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE HEALTHCARE PROVIDER.
      3. FOR THE PURPOSES OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMAND RESPONSIBILITY, THE SARC WILL REPORT INFORMATION CONCERNING SEXUAL ASSAULT INCIDENTS, WITHOUT INFORMATION THAT COULD REASONABLY LEAD TO PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION OF THE VICTIM, TO COMMAND OFFICIALS WITHIN 24 HOURS OF THE INCIDENT.
    5. ASSIGN A UVA TO ASSIST THE VICTIM IMMEDIATELY UPON NOTIFICATION OF THE INCIDENT.
    6. OVERSEE UNIT VICTIM ADVOCATES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR UVA DUTIES.
    7. ENSURE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT RECEIVE GUIDANCE AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT DURING ADMINISTRATIVE, MEDICAL, INVESTIGATIVE, AND LEGAL PROCEDURES, AND THAT VICTIMS UNDERSTAND THE PROCESSES INVOLVED.
    8. MAINTAIN LIAISON WITH THE PROVOST MARSHAL/CID, CHAPLAIN, MEDICAL AND LEGAL SERVICES, AND COMMANDERS TO FACILITATE IMMEDIATE RESPONSE AND ACCURATE REPORTING OF SEXUAL ASSAULT INCIDENTS.
    9. ENSURE ALL UNRESTRICTED REPORTED INCIDENTS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ARE REPORTED TO THE FIRST LTC IN THE CHAIN OF COMMAND, CID, MPS AND THE INSTALLATION PROVOST MARSHAL WITHIN 24 HOURS OF RECEIPT.
    10. ENSURE ALL SEXUAL ASSAULT INFORMATION (E.G. PROGRAM INFORMATION, CASE DISPOSITION STATUS) IS REPORTED TO THE THEATER OF OPERATIONS SENIOR MISSION COMMANDER OR DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE.
    11. CONDUCT SENIOR LEADER TRAINING TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ISSUES AND HIGH-RISK BEHAVIOR. L. TRACK AND MAINTAIN A ROSTER OF WHAT SUBORDINATE UNITS REQUIRE UVAS AND DEPLOYABLE SARCS, STATUS OF THEIR TRAINING, AND ROTATION DATES (I.E, PCS AND ETS).
    12. PUBLISH AND MAINTAIN AN ON-CALL ROSTER OF TRAINED UVAS AND CHAPLAINS AVAILABLE TO ASSIST VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT.
    13. ENSURE THAT DATA ON SEXUAL ASSAULT INCIDENTS IS RECEIVED FROM THE RESPONDING AGENCIES (I.E., SJA, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, MP/CID, CHAPLAINS, AND UVAS) IN THE DEPLOYED ENVIRONMENT AND REPORTED IN THE SEXUAL ASSAULT REPORTING SYSTEM.
    14. TURN OVER CASE FILES TO INSTALLATION SARC UPON REDEPLOYMENT.
    15. TRACK SERVICES PROVIDED TO VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT FROM INITIAL REPORT OF SEXUAL ASSAULT THROUGH DISPOSITION AND RESOLUTION OF THE VICTIM S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.

    16. MAINTAIN CASE MANAGEMENT INFORMATION ON INCIDENTS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND ENSURE A SMOOTH TRANSITION, WITH THE INSTALLATION SARC, OF ALL CASES NOT COMPLETED PRIOR TO REDEPLOYMENT.
    17. TRAIN UVAS IN A DEPLOYED ENVIRONMENT.
    18. SERVE AS A PERMANENT MEMBER ON THE SARB.
    19. POINTS OF CONTACT.
    20. POINT OF CONTACT (POC) AT THE COMMUNITY FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER
      21. (CFSC) IS LTC MARY DOOLEY-BERNARD, (703) 681-7393; MARY.DOOLEY-BERNARD@CFSC.ARMY.MIL. ALTERNATE POC IS MS. JOYCE WILLIAMS-CAMBRIDGE, (703) 681-0523; JOYCE.WILLIAMS-CAMBRIDGE@CFSC.ARMY.MIL.
    21. 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
    22. EXPIRATION DATE CANNOT BE DETERMINED.
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