Sexual Assault Response Coordinator

Mr. Eric Koeppen:  161st ARW Sexual Assault Response Coordinator

Location:  Bldg 10, Room 231

Office number:  (602) 302-9394

Cell number:  (602) 419-8049

eric.koeppen.1@us.af.mil

DoD SAFE HELPLINE (877) 995-5247

 

Promoting respect, preserving dignity

161st Air Refueling Wing Sexual Assault Prevention and Response: Sexual Assault Response Coordinators (SARCs) and Victim Advocates are available to assist victims (survivors) of sexual assault. The 161st Air Refueling Wing SARC serves as the single point of contact for integrating and coordinating sexual assault victim (survivor) care 24/7, 365 days a year. The SARC Office is also responsible for providing Sexual Assault Prevention training throughout the Wing.

Help is just a phone call away: If you have been sexually assaulted, please call the Wings 24/7 SARC Response Helpline at 602-302-9176. Additionally, DOD has set up a 24-hour hotline at 1-800-342-9647 for geographically separated military personnel as well. Military members who access the DOD hotline will be referred to the nearest Sexual Assault Response Coordinator's office for assistance.

Sexual Assault Defined and Program Assistance

Sexual Assault is criminal conduct that falls well short of the standards America expects of its men and women in uniform and is a violation of our Air Force Core Values.

Sexual Assault is defined as intentional sexual conduct, characterized by use of force, physical threat or abuse of authority or when the victim does not or cannot consent. Sexual assault includes rape, nonconsensual sodomy (oral or anal sex), indecent assault (unwanted, inappropriate sexual contact or fondling), or attempts to commit these acts. Sexual assault can occur without regard to gender or spousal relationship or age of victim.

Consent shall not be deemed or construed to mean the failure by the victim to offer physical resistance. Consent is not given when a person uses force, threat of force, coercion or when the victim is asleep, incapacitated, or unconscious.

The161st Air Refueling Wing SARC office provides a 24 hour, 7 day a week sexual assault response capability for all victims on the installation, and assigned geographically separated units. Anyone who feels they have been a victim of sexual assault may contact the SARC office.

After you contact the SARC office, you will be assigned a trained Victim Advocate. Your Victim Advocate will explain reporting options, and may meet you at the hospital for a medical evaluation, treatment and examination. It is your option to accept or decline victim advocacy.

Sexual Assault Reporting Options

The Air Force has instituted new avenues for reporting sexual assault in the form of Restricted and Unrestricted Reporting. Restricted Reporting allows a victim to report a Sexual Assault without triggering an investigation. It is intended to give the victim (survivor) time and control over the release of their information. Further, it also empowers the survivor to make an informed decision about participating in the criminal process.

Unrestricted Reporting is any report of sexual assault made through normal reporting channels (for example: reports to chain of command, security forces, and/or Air Force Office of Investigation).

Restricted Reporting is available to active duty military, Coast Guard, Reservist performing federal training and members of the National Guard under Title 10 status.