BEALE AFB, Calif. –
The Beale Air Force Base Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Center will hold its annual skydiving event to raise sexual assault awareness, "Jump into Prevention," April 26 at the Lincoln Regional Airport.
Major Holt Durham, deputy director of communications for the 713th Combat Operations Squadron, Beale Air Force Base, Calif., and licensed skydiving instructor, will be one of the volunteers for the event.
The SARC serves as the single point of accountability and oversight for sexual assault policy, with prevention through training and education programs, as well as treatment and support of victims.
More than 10 years ago a victim of sexual assault decided she didn't want to live in fear anymore and conquered her fear of heights by sky diving on the anniversary of her assault. This story inspired similar events across the country including the Jump into Prevention program organized by Dr. Michael Stacy, Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, here.
"People skydive to conquer their fears, and in some cases, it can be a life changing decision," said Durham. "It's an indescribable feeling because it is nothing like what you think it's going to be."
Durham decided to become an instructor to relive his first skydiving experience through the reaction of the people on their first jump. Since 1988, he has completed more than 4,000 jumps and is certified in three different methods of first jump school.
"I've taken blind people, deaf people, people who didn't speak any English," said Durham. "There are only three commands I have to be able to communicate, and once those are understood, everything else just flows."
And for those who wonder why anyone would want to jump out of a perfectly good plane, Durham responds, "There is no such thing as a perfectly good plane."
"However, I do have two perfectly good parachutes, so why not jump out of the plane?"
Jump into Prevention is open to all Beale AFB personnel including civilians and dependents over 18 years of age and costs $140. Anyone interested in participating in Jump to Prevention can email the 9th Reconnaissance Wing SARC office at
9rw.sarc-02@beale.af.mil, before the deadline Monday April, 22.