Sexual Assault Prevention & Response

Promoting Respect, Preserving Dignity

Sexual Assault Response Coordinators, or SARCs, and Victim Advocates are available at major DoD installations to assist victims and survivors of sexual assault. The Vandenberg Space Force Base SARC serves as the single point of contact for integrating and coordinating sexual assault victim and survivors' care 24/7, 365 days a year. The SARC Office is also responsible for providing Sexual Assault Prevention training throughout the installation.

Help is just a phone call away: If you have been sexually assaulted, please call the Vandenberg 24/7 SARC Response Helpline at (805) 606-7272 or (805) 588-7233. 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 SARC office for assistance. You may also visit the Air Force Sexual Assault Prevention and Response website for more information.

If you have been assaulted

If you have been sexually assaulted or think you may have been:

Go to a safe location.
For a Restricted report, contact your local Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC), or a victims' advocate.
For an Unrestricted report you may contact your chain of command or law enforcement (military or civilian), however if you do, an investigation will occur and you will not have the option of making a Restricted Report.
The SARC or a Victim Advocate will take you for medical care as soon as possible, at no cost to you. Even if you do not have any visible physical injuries, you may be at risk of becoming pregnant or acquiring a sexually transmitted disease.

The healthcare personnel will conduct a sexual assault forensic examination (SAFE) to preserve forensic evidence.
If you suspect you had been drugged a urine sample may be collected.

Preserve all evidence of the assault. Do not bathe, smoke, wash your hands or brush your teeth. Do not clean or straighten up the crime scene.
Write down, tape or record by any other means, all the details you can recall about the assault and your assailant.

Vandenberg SARC Contact

Sexual Assault Response Coordinator
723 Nebraska Ave, Bldg 10525
Comm: 805-606-7272 (SARC)
DSN: 276-7272
24/7 Hotline: 805-588-7233

What is Sexual Assault?

For the purpose of this website and SAPR awareness training and education, the term "sexual assault" is defined as intentional sexual contact characterized by use of force, threats, intimidation, or abuse of authority or when the victim does not or cannot consent. The term includes a broad category of sexual offenses consisting of the following specific UCMJ offenses: rape, sexual assault, aggravated sexual contact, abusive sexual contact, forcible sodomy (forced oral or anal sex), or attempts to commit these acts. (AFI-90-6001)

What is Consent?

"Consent" is defined as words or overt acts indicating a freely given agreement to the sexual conduct at issue by a competent person. An expression of lack of consent through words or conduct means there is no consent. Lack of verbal or physical resistance or submission resulting from the one accused use of force, threat of force, or placing another person in fear does not constitute consent. A current or previous dating relationship by itself or the manner of dress of the person involved with the accused in the sexual conduct at issue shall not constitute consent. There is no consent where the person is sleeping or incapacitated, such as due to age, alcohol or drugs, or mental incapacity.

Special Victims' Counsel

What is a special victims' counsel?

A Special Victims' Counsel (SVC) is a trained Judge Advocate, who specializes in providing confidential legal advice and counsel to military victims of sexual assault at no cost.

The legal system is often a complex and intimidating process that leaves victims feeling unsupported and often revictimized. A trained SVC can provide guidance and support from a legal perspective to help victims of sexual assault understand the investigative and prosecutorial process.

The goals of the SVC program are to provide advice, advocacy and ultimately to empower victims of sexual assault. Contact your local SVC or regional SVC for further information on our local services or for further information on the SVC program.