Task force in Norfolk to address sexual violence in military

NORFOLK

All this week, a task force has been busy in Hampton Roads, visiting military installations to make sure those whose lives have been touched by sexual violence are heard and accounted for.

"We're reaching out to victims of sexual assault to let them know we're here," said Jenny Holbert, spokeswoman for the Defense Task Force on Sexual Assault in the Military Services.

The task force was established in 2005 by congressional mandate via the National Defense Authorization Act. Since August, the group's 10 members have traveled to three dozen military commands and installations around the world, including combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan.

At each stop, the task force's goal has been to meet with victims and military and civilian response personnel, as well as to collect data through observation, interviews and focus groups. The task force is gathering statistics and best practices, as well as making sure the services have the tools they need. Members are also studying whether military installations and their surrounding communities can work more closely on these issues.

"We can't stay in reactive mode. We need to be proactive," said co-chair Louis Iasiello, a retired rear admiral and former chief of Navy chaplains. "If someone is called to serve, they need to be able to do so with dignity and respect."

In its travels, the group has seen effective peer-to-peer and intervention programs, said co-chair Millicent Wasell, a former adviser to the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness. The messages and training programs that target a specific age group tend to be the most effective.

As part of its mandate, the task force has held several open meetings where the public can comment. Today's meeting is at the Norfolk Airport Hilton on Military Highway. The group welcomes comments from anyone, Holbert said, but is particularly interested in hearing from anyone who may have been assaulted in a combat zone since 2005.

The task force expects to present its report to Congress by late summer, including trends and specific recommendations, Wasell said. The report also will go to the military service secretaries and the secretary of defense for comment.

Matthew Jones, (757) 446-2949, matthew.jones@pilotonline.com