Incirlik SAPR office named best in USAFE

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Michael Battles
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Excellence in all we do is a core value that all Airmen live by. One Team Incirlik office took that value one step further by garnering a U.S. Air Forces in Europe office of the year award.

On Jan. 27, USAFE announced that the 39th Air Base Wing's Sexual Assault Prevention Response office won the 2014 USAFE SAPR Office of the Year Award. This year's SAPR office three-person team included Capt. Reynaldo Galindo, Capt. Jordan Tribble and Mamie Futrell.

Galindo explained that the office's dedication to the mission of eradicating sexual assaults is the reason for the award.

"I believe the Incirlik SAPR office won the award because we have a team of Airmen who truly care about eliminating sexual assault from the military," said Galindo, former 39th ABW sexual assault response coordinator. "From the sexual response coordinator, to our SAPR specialist Mamie Futrell, as well as all of our volunteer victim advocates, the team was dedicated to the mission and that dedication was on full display during every SAPR event and training." 

According to Futrell, 39th ABW SAPR office specialist, the award was due to the office's commitment to excellence.

"Incirlik's SAPR office commits their efforts to do above what the guidance requires for a SAPR office," said Futrell. "We focus not only on the importance of responding to incidents of sexual assault, but collaborating with other helping agencies to prevent sexual assaults from occurring."

Futrell also stated that a large portion of the award won is due to their innovation.

"As a team we acknowledge today's culture and administer innovative programs to address the challenges that the culture presents," Futrell said.

Instead of the typical PowerPoint slides used in many briefings, the Incirlik SAPR office utilizes interactive exercises, activities and videos that focus on everyone's roles and responsibilities related to the SAPR.

The formation of programs such Airman 4 Airman, which provides additional information to newcomers under the age of 26, was a key element within the package submitted for the office which contributed to their win.

"Additionally, we could not have been as successful without the help of other important agencies such as equal opportunity, chaplain, the alcohol and drug abuse prevention and treatment office and many others, "Galindo said. "It's great to have a SAPR team that is passionate about preventing sexual assault."

In the coming weeks, the 39th ABW SAPR office will move on to compete in the Air Force-level award.