Domestic violence awareness: Are you okay? Published Oct. 15, 2015 By Senior Airman Erin O'Shea 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- As you approach the front gate at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, you reach for your ID card, hand it to a security forces member, look up and notice something isn't right. Dark colors of red and black surround one eye, and thoughts begin to run through your head about what to say, think or do. If you come across a person with a black eye, asking the right questions can present a challenge. According to Senior Airman Miranda Kalandar, a 48th Security Forces Squadron member, either people don't want to get involved, it can be uncomfortable or the individual may not want to intrude on someone's personal life. October is Domestic Violence Awareness month, and victim advocates and their spouses helped spread awareness by wearing moulage makeup to simulate black eyes. "It raises awareness on how to approach victims because people can be reserved when it comes to approaching victims," said Jewel McJennett, a Family Advocacy outreach management member. "People can feel uncomfortable invading someone's privacy." Several active-duty victim advocates stopped by the simulation center, where two moulage artists applied black eye makeup. Advocates proceeded to their posts at the front gate to hand out informational pamphlets, while others went quietly back to their work stations or carried out daily errands. "We like to surprise people at their work centers so they have the ability to react, and we can capture those reactions and know whether people are reacting in an appropriate way or if they're reacting at all," McJennett said. Two hours later, the victim, his or her squadron commander and a representative from family advocacy met to discuss the victim's experience. "We've had a wide range of different reactions from squadrons," McJennett said. "Some people avoided them, while another asked the victim if they were okay via text message." The spouse of an active-duty victim advocate also participated in this year's campaign, as she experienced domestic violence during her childhood years, and wanted to help spread the word by wearing a black eye while running errands. "I have first-hand experience with abuse, and my husband knows raising awareness is something that means a lot to me," said Cyndi Treaster, spouse of Staff Sgt. Ronnie Treaster, 48th Logistics Readiness Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of the fuels service center. According to McJennett, the simulation lab, moulage artists, the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response center, the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, the 48th SFS and the domestic abuse victim advocates all played a crucial role in making this year's campaign successful. "You never know when you can be someone's outlet," Kalandar said. "You can save a person's life just by asking the question, 'Are you okay?' It's that easy." For more information on domestic violence or to make a report, call Family Advocacy at 01638-52-8070 or DSN: 226-8070.