Understanding the Role of a Sexual Assault Response Coordinator

It’s essential to understand what a Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC) does because their role is often overlooked but critical. Endorsed by the Department of Defense, SARCs serve within the military to provide confidential support and advocacy for survivors of sexual assault.

As a SARC, you are often the first responder—the one answering the phone call from someone in desperate need of help. You are the person who listens to their story, explains their victims’ rights, and walks them through reporting options. You make sure they know what care and services are available to them. If they decide to move forward, you become their case manager, guiding their report through the military’s chain of command and bureaucratic processes. Your role is to either help them find justice or ensure they get the services they need to heal.

From 2016 to 2019, I served in this role within the U.S. Marine Corps, working under the Trump administration. It was an eye-opening experience. I saw how leadership at the highest level impacts survivors in ways many people don’t realize. When dangerous rhetoric flows from the top, it creates a culture that emboldens perpetrators and silences survivors. I witnessed firsthand how this environment left survivors afraid to come forward, terrified of retaliation or dismissal.

Leadership matters—it’s about more than just policies; it’s about creating a culture of support and trust that encourages survivors to speak out, rather than cower in fear. That’s why I’m lending my voice to this cause and sharing my story on October 21 at 5 PM PT / 8 PM ET with @survivors4harris.

This conversation isn’t just about politics; it’s about empathy and understanding. It’s about recognizing the unintended consequences of leadership that fails to protect the most vulnerable among us—those marginalized by systems that were never built to support them. Too many of us have been silenced by pain that was never ours to carry.

Regardless of your political views, I invite you to join us. Together, we’ll hear from survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, crime, and more, all sharing their truths. Their perspectives shine a light on the importance of leadership that values dignity, respect, and justice.

Let’s raise our voices, share our stories, and build a world where no one feels silenced.

#SARC #sexualassaultawareness #militarysupport #survivorstories #leadershipmatters #victimsrights #healingservices #supportsurvivors #trumpadministration #advocacy #mentalhealthsupport

[joshader]

Not in totality. Sorry for earlier comment