CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Nearly 700 local military and non-military members participated in Cheyenne’s annual Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness 5K ruck, run or walk Saturday at the Cheyenne Depot.
This particular event, organized by the Wyoming Air National Guard’s 153rd Airlift Wing, is designed to educate the Cheyenne community about sexual assault, as well as show support to sexual assault victims.
“I’ll be honest, part of me wishes I wasn’t here today because we’re recognizing a problem we have,” said, Col. Stephen Kravitsky, 90th Missile Wing commander and race participant. “It’s not a military problem, it’s a societal problem. Events like this give us awareness.”
According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, a sexual assault happens every 98 seconds in America and one in every six women will be victimized in their lifetime. Today’s event gave military organizers an opportunity to show that sexual assault isn’t tolerated within its ranks and that the local military supports victims.
“The message quickly becomes, ‘not in my squad.’ It’s not who we are and it’s not what we want,” said Maj. Gen. Luke Reiner, Wyoming adjutant general.
“You’ll see some people carrying rucks or ruck sacks today. Those rucks symbolize the additional burdens and weight victims of sexual assault carry in life,” said Col. Paul Lyman, 153rd Airlift Wing commander. “This is about supporting those individuals and letting them know that we’re here for them.”
The SAPR 5K ruck, run or walk is an annual event held every April, during Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. For more information, visit the 153rd Airlift Wing’s website at www.153aw.ang.af.mil.