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SALT LAKE CITY — The Elizabeth Smart Foundation and Utah National Guard are partnering throughout the month of November to bring awareness to issues surrounding sexual violence and to highlight prevention.
There were at least 6,290 reports of sexual assault involving service members, as victims or alleged perpetrators, in the fiscal year 2020, according to an annual report from the U.S. Department of Defense. It's a 1% increase from reports in 2019.
Rates could be even higher due to the lack of reporting often associated with sexual violence, the report states.
A prevalence survey, which is conducted every two years by the department to estimate how many incidents occur — not just how many are reported — was postponed to this year due to the ongoing pandemic. The most recent survey, conducted in 2018, estimated 20,500 service members experienced some kind of sexual assault.
"To raise awareness of this crime, we've chosen to partner with the Elizabeth Smart Foundation by encouraging our soldiers and airmen — no matter where they are — to complete a custom workout. As a team, we hope to move forward to make sure every soldier, airman, family member and civilian is treated with dignity and respect," said Brig. Gen. Tyler Smith, assistant adjutant general with the Utah Army National Guard.
Elizabeth Smart created the Elizabeth Smart Foundation in 2011, nearly a decade after she was taken from her home at the age of 14 and sexually assaulted by her captor for nine months. Since her rescue, Smart has dedicated her life to awareness and advocacy for sexual assault survivors.
"Without a doubt, the No. 1 comment I've received since I was rescued and I've been involved in advocacy is that 'I don't want to share my story because I don't think anyone will believe me,'" Smart says in a video. "So what a perfect time to come together, because no matter whether you're a civilian or you're part of the military, or you're anywhere if you are a survivor, you deserve to be believed. You deserve to have the help that you need. You deserve to heal. You deserve every good thing in life."
The Elizabeth Smart Foundation will join members of the Utah National Guard Wednesday to complete the custom workout and raise awareness of issues surrounding sexual violence.
The workout consists of six burpees, eight air squats, six push-ups and eight sit-ups, which will be repeated every 68 seconds, for eight rounds. The Rape Abuse and Incest National Network reports that sexual assault occurs every 68 seconds in the United States.
Smith said the exercise is meant "to show how quickly 68 seconds goes by."
Anyone can participate in the workout and join a live stream of the event, on the Utah National Guard Facebook page.
Military or family members who have been victims of sexual assault and need assistance and resources are encouraged to reach out to:
- Utah National Guard 24/7 Sexual Assault Response Coordinator Hotline at 801-716-9254
- Department of Defense Safe Helpline at 1-877-995-5247
- SafeUT National Guard Helpline at 833-372-3364
