Copperheads, meet your new SARC

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Tinashe Machona
  • 161st Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
PHOENIX --  When he was young, Capt. Lance Beier discovered a passion to help people, putting him on a path to serve others as a police officer, a member of the armed forces, and most recently, to serve as the sexual assault response coordinator at the 161st Air Refueling Wing   here.

Beier, a 21-year military veteran, is the unit's new SARC; a duty that he will be dedicated to on a full-time basis. No longer will the program be an additional duty. 

Inspired by his father's military service in the U.S. Navy, Beier joined the military when he was 25 years old. He served in the Navy, Army and now the Air Force. "When I was in the Army I was a military policeman during drill weekends and a police officer in the Chicago area in the civilian sector," he said. Beier was in the Illinois Army National Guard.

While in Illinois, Beier was the SARC for his unit, he said. He added that the SARC position at the time was his additional duty. The position equipped him with the skills he needed to be the sexual assault prevention response compliance investigation officer at the National Guard Bureau.

According to the Guard's Sexual Assault Prevention Response program, the SARC serves as the installation's primary point of contact for integrating and coordinating sexual assault victim care services. Services may begin at the initial report of sexual assault and continue through disposition and resolution of issues related to the victim's health and well-being.

"To me, SARC is all about helping the survivor and making sure that they are guided in the right direction to obtain the necessary care they need to get well. We care about our people, and the first step is reporting so that the healing process can begin," Beier said. He emphasized that an important part of his job will be to follow through with reports to ensure that survivors are not left in the dark.

Maj. Jessica Hastings, chief of wing plans for the 161st, served as the wing's primary SARC for several years prior to Beier's arrival. She said the constant evolution of the SAPR program, coupled with an allocation of resources, necessitated the creation of full-time SARC positions across the Air National Guard. She added that Beier brings a plethora of SAPR and NGB experience which will be beneficial in his new role.

"Beier is going to be excellent as the primary SARC because he comes to us with leadership and law enforcement experience, which is a great foundation for this program because it is multifaceted. His program management skills will make him an effective and approachable SARC," said Hastings.

She added that Beier is going to be a superb resource for the wing 24 hours per day, seven days per week because he is ready, willing and able to help.

Beier's office is located in building 10 near family readiness. His hours of operation are Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. He can be reached at the SARC hotline (602) 302-9176 or lance.r.beier.mil@mail.mil.

"I respect confidentially and I can be reached through unconventional means such as calling me on my cell phone or even meeting at a Starbucks to talk about anything," said Beier.