Air Force Exceptional SARC of the Year here at Hill AFB Published April 19, 2013 By Mary Lou Gorny Hilltop Times Editor HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- Janaee Stone, Hill AFB Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, was selected as the U.S. Air Force Exceptional SARC of the Year. She will be honored along with the other SARCs who represent each branch of service. "The reason I do what I do is I saw it happening to so many of my friends," Stone explained. As a woman with a clear strong voice, she was drawn to support them and now focuses on providing resources to victims so they can realize their own strength and begin the healing process. Her main concern is that anyone coming forward to report rape or a sexual assault gets the support needed. "We treat every victim like they are our first victim," she explained. Stone is very clear that sexual assault awareness and prevention has been an effort that goes beyond the walls of her own office. "I seriously believe it'sthe whole Hill AFB Sexual Assault Prevention Response Team's award," she said. She includes first sergeants, commanders, victim advocates and others' efforts at Hill AFB in helping her office to become as effective as it is. "Without the support of senior leadership you don't have a program," she said. Dedicated victim advocates Her victim advocates are her right arm when it comes to the program. "We go through a rigorous interview process with them. They have to be very active and are required to attend our monthly victim advocate training. Your heart really has to be in the right place," Stone said. In addition to the 40 hours of U.S. Air Force victim advocate training required to become a victim advocate and Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault training, these meetings present unique opportunities for growth and education. Stone invites officials from outside organizations to present victim resources at the training meetings. Recently, a representative from the UtahOffice of Victims of Crime visited and explained resources that are available for victims of sexual assault who are not Tricare beneficiaries. Off-base support Local community organizations have been extremely helpful to the SARC office. Stone praised Your Community Connection in Ogden and Safe Harbor, in Kaysville, as well as the Northern Utah Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners for their work in preserving evidence. Counseling offered through such resources has been especially helpful when active duty member victims want to go with a restricted report process (where the information is kept on file and not given to the commander or police). The SARC office also offers resources to others who are not active duty and ensures they have the support that they need. "Victims can get professional counseling and nobody has to know that they went there. They can receive all the help that they need," Stone said. Peer and team support In addition to her support for her victims, Stone works hard to minimize the stress of working with victims for victim advocates and her staff. That support and motivation helps the team in her office as they continue to look for new ways to support each unique victim. "I don't think I have had the 'same' victim twice," she said. Others honored by the DoD include: · Army Sgt. 1st Class Josalette Simmons, Fort Bragg, N.C. · Kathleen Schofield, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash. · Marine Corps Maj. Robyn Mestemacher, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. · Army Capt. Jennifer Hunt, National Guard Joint Force Headquarters,Fla. · Kristin Cox, Coast Guard District 13.