You have a voice, let it be heard Published Oct. 6, 2014 By the Family Advocacy Program MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Purple ribbons are worn as a symbol to honor victims and survivors of domestic violence. They remind everyone that someone is physically, sexually, psychologically or verbally abused by a spouse or partner every 15 seconds, according to www.Women's Law.org. Some victims don't ask for help because they fear for their safety or the safety of their children. Victims of domestic violence usually do not recognize they are victims and feel the violence is normal. Unfortunately, it is often only when someone is seriously hurt that their friends, family or professionals become aware of the situation. If you are a victim of abuse or know someone who is, the Family Advocacy Program offers Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate services. The DAVA program is designed to provide a voice to victims who need support to speak about their experience. Members who are a part of the program work 24/7, as needed, to provide victim advocacy to all active duty personnel, family members or intimate partners who are eligible beneficiaries of the military health care system. The advocate services can provide safety planning and linkage to needed installation and community services; regional and local resources; getting a protection order with both military and civil court; and support during court proceedings. Someone may also accompany the victim for medical appointments, law enforcement investigations, counseling and any judicial processes. A victim of domestic violence has two reporting options: restricted or unrestricted. An unrestricted report is for victims who want the military chain-of-command to know of an incident and to have it investigated and assessed by law enforcement, the Family Advocacy Program, chain-of-command and Air Force Office of Special Investigations. A restricted report allows victims of abuse to report to specific individuals within the military systems, including victim advocates and health care providers, without that person having to report it further. However, if a restricted report becomes known to the command or FAP by a source other than the restricted report, it will be investigated as if it were unrestricted. If safety becomes a concern, the Family Advocacy Office has the discretion to change a restricted report to an unrestricted report. The limitation involved with a restricted report is if the individual's command is not involved, it becomes difficult to ensure the victim's safety, as leadership within the their chain-of-command support military no-contact orders. If you are a victim of abuse and would like to talk to a advocate, please call: Office number: 701-723-5933 Emergency line: 701-557-9466