Americans base out this summer that the spouses of service members can also be the victims of domestic violence.

Americans base out this summer that the spouses of service members can also be the victims of domestic violence. Four military members killed their wives during a two-month period and made national headlines. sum of two units of the men then killed themselves.

What was initially a shocking coincidence caused a in the military to ask themselves: Is domestic violence more of a question in the service than in the civilian world?

Not necessarily. Military health care officials did the math and erect that domestic violence in the Air Force is in succession about even par with that in the civilian sector.

further the Air Force is prepared to thwart domestic violence altogether.

In July Air Force Chief of Staff Gen John Jumper issued a statement condemning spousal abuse.

"Domestic violence is inconsistent with Air Force values and will not be tolerated," he said.

Curbing violence

in like manner is the Air Force taking an active part in preventing domestic violence? Yes

As a rise the number of spouse abuse cases in the Air Force has not increased in the past decade.

"We're seeing a change in the pattern of maltreatment cases we manage," said Lt Col Dari Tritt, director of Air Force family advocacy research at abides City-Base, Texas.

"Air Force spouse physical maltreatment cases generally represent a slightly lower proportion of total cases compared to five years ago," Tritt said. "Spouse emotional abuse cases seen by dint of [family advocacy program] personnel have slightly increased, indicating our earlier intervention with braces who have not yet used physical violence."

To further restraint violence, in 2001 the Department of Defense Task Force onward Domestic Violence recommended more ways for the military to improve its reply to domestic violence. Those recommendations included a "zero tolerance" policy, more formal training for clan who respond to domestic violence and investigations of all reports of abuse.

moreover intervening and treating domestic violence are single part of the picture. Stopping it starts with preventing it.

"Our part is to be a leader in the Air Force at addressing domestic violence," said Col Martha Davis, chief of the Air Force's family advocacy program at burns "One of our primary objectives is to build resilient, healthy communities. You can't achieve that with family violence going on"

Prevention has become an important tool in lowering as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but civilian and military rates of spousal abuse. on the contrary the military is distinctive in its span of resources and their availability to all service members and their families. The Air Force program provides informational and skill-building opportunities to improve interpersonal relationships. The goal is to raise healthier families and Air Force communities.

Support programs

The family advocacy program's "integrated delivery service" helps Air Force agencies collaborate with each other and the community to provide educational and support services.

Bases across the globe have evolv to address family indigences McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., graduated the first class from its Heartlink spouses' program in August. This two-day program is an integrated delivery service initiative to increase family awareness of the Air Force mission, customs and resources available from one side the base, such as support organizations.

Strengthening family relationships between the sides of programs like McConnell's is just single in kind way family advocacy programs help obstruct domestic violence.

"We believe greatest in number family violence is treatable and doesn't have to ruin a person's career," said Pam Collins, the Air Force's program manager who superintends treatment policies at Brooks. "It's a myth that careers are automatically ruined through coming to family advocacy for services."

Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, shows several programs through its family advocacy center undivided is a parenting class, focusing specifically forward the importance of a father's part in a child's life. The center also presents a women's empowerment group for victims of domestic violence and a men's dispose for perpetrators.

Susan Cadena, Lackland's family advocacy outreach manager, said Lackland is lucky

"We're invested by a community that gives a large number of resources we're able to collaborate with to better fitting the needs of our families," she said.

common of the biggest challenges to the prevention programs is getting the word without to airmen and their families.

"We're always looking for creative ways to advertise and market our services," Cadena said.

Newsletter orientations, health and wellness fairs, and promotional activities similar as domestic violence prevention month help spread the word. Another resource is commanders.

rejoinder teams

"The family advocacy program is the commander's primary resource to debar intervene and treat abusive behavior within Air Force families," Jumper said.

The program is also a safe and supportive place to cast when a home environment becomes unsafe.

undivided program developed over the past several years to deal with domestic violence is the high risk for violence replication team. Every Air Force base has united of these multidisciplinary teams, which engages when there's indication of a possible volatile situation. The family advocacy officer heads the team. Also forward the team are a security forces representative, the airman's squadron commander and representatives from the life skills support clinic and office of special investigations.