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October 11, 2007

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Junior Leadership El Paso

Immanuel Baptist Christian School student Karina Corral hangs 43 feet over the edge of the Fort Bliss Air Assault rappel tower Wednseday in Abernethy Park while following the instructions given by rappel master Sgt. 1st Class Joseph S. Moore, Garrison Command. Select students from area high schools participated in the Junior Leadership El Paso event, which is an education program initiated by Leadership El Paso Class 2002 to foster a better understanding of the military and what Fort Bliss is all about. Their visit included briefings and demonstrations on the Engagement Skills Trainer and Truck Driving Simulator. Photo by Wilson A. Rivera.

Mark Mayfield, professional speaker, makes audience members laugh, using comedy as a unique way to speak about domestic violence at the Centennial Club Oct. 3. Photo by Wilson A. Rivera.

Domestic violence: Knowledge, awareness focus of family conference

Wilson A. Rivera, Monitor Staff

Violence among Soldiers and in their community was the topic discussed at the Biennial Domestic Violence Conference held Oct. 2 and 3 at the Biggs Army Airfield Centennial Club.

The Domestic Violence conference, sponsored by the Fort Bliss Family Advocacy, provided seminars by experts to share their experience and knowledge dealing with abuse, stress and family violence awareness. Speakers and presenters educated participants in their selected fields of family violence, animal abuse and law enforcement measures.

“You have to talk and you have to communicate,” said Mark Mayfield, professional speaker. “Anger is like a volcano; you erupt if you don’t unleash it. Having a sense of humor is a terrific tool. Talk to a pet, a friend or a child.”

The Fort Bliss Family Advocacy program offers available resources to assist Soldiers and their families through personal matters. Classes offered by the Family Advocacy program are parenting classes, new parent support program, child health and safety issues, stress management, family violence awareness and life-building skills.

The conference covered the understanding and prevention of intimate partner abuse and how to make a report to the local law enforcement or military police. Domestic violence comes in many forms of behavior, ranging from economic control and emotional abuse to personal liberty and the attempt to threaten force.

“What’s hard about domestic violence is accepting that it happened,” said “Tanya,” who asked not to be identified by her real name. “It’s something you don’t want to accept that it happened, you don’t want to face the truth, and you don’t want people to know that you have a problem, so you don’t want to admit to it either.”

Anyone can be a victim of abuse, said Renate Hobson, Adult Protective Services specialist. Children don’t know if they have been abused and are in need of an advocate to identify the problem. Elderly often will not report abuse because they are ashamed of it, she said. 

For more information about Domestic Violence or victim assistance, individuals can contact the Army Community Service at 568-4878 or call the El Paso Center Family Violence at 593-7300.

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Last updated on October 11, 2007. Copyright 2007 The Laven Group, LLC. All rights reserved.