2015 Survivor Experience Survey
(2015 SES)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC)?

DMDC conducts comprehensive research and analyses to support the information needs of
the Department of Defense (DoD). One way to meet this need is through surveys. DMDC
conducts Joint-Service surveys including the Status of Forces Surveys, QuickCompass
Surveys, and Health and Readiness Surveys for the DoD on a variety of topics of interest to
the Department.
What is the Survivor Experience Survey (SES)?

The Secretary of Defense has tasked the Department to improve the services provided to
survivors of sexual assault. In response, DMDC and the Sexual Assault Prevention and
Response Office (SAPRO) have created the “Survivor Experience Survey” (SES) to assess
the views of survivors of sexual assault with the services and resources they recently received
or used. Combined results from this survey will be used in reports and briefings to senior
military leaders, the Secretary of Defense, and Congress.
Do I have to take the survey? Is it anonymous?


The survey is voluntary. Survivors are not required to take the survey, but are encouraged to
participate.
The survey is anonymous. DMDC has no way to identify the respondents who submit
surveys for this effort and will ensure that all responses are free from information that might
identify them. Although a ticket number is randomly generated by the Ticket Assignment
Site for each survivor, that ticket number is unique and not linked to the survivor (i.e., the
survivor’s name, Service, paygrade). Ticket numbers are assigned to ensure that only eligible
respondents have access to the survey. This practice is consistent with industry standards for
this type of survey. DMDC does not use ticket numbers to track the identity of a respondent.
Paper forms provided to installation SARC offices will not include any tracking capability
(i.e., bar codes) to link the survey return with the location from where it was shipped.
How do I know this is an official, approved DoD survey?


This survey has gone through coordination at all levels of Service and DoD leadership and
has been approved by the DoD Privacy office, DoD Human Protections office, and is licensed
by the Washington Headquarters Service (WHS).
In accordance with DoD Instruction 8910.01, all survey data collected across DoD must be
licensed and include a Report Control Symbol (RCS) on the survey. The RCS for this survey
is RCS# DD-P&R(AR)2554. The RCS means that the SES is an official approved DoD
survey.
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I am concerned about the survey content and re-victimization of survivors. Can I see the SES
questions before I offer the survey to the clients that I am working with?

Yes, we are happy to let SARCs and Uniformed Victim Advocates (UVA)/Victim Advocates
(VA) view the 2015 SES survey instrument. The SARC can access the 2015 SES questions
by contacting the Survey Processing Center (call 800-881-5307 or by emailing
DODHRA.SES-Survey@mail.mil) and requesting the 2015 SES survey instrument.
In my role as a SARC/UVA/VA, I am getting questions from survivors about why this survey effort
is important and why this information is getting collected through an impersonal survey. What can
I tell them?

The Department wants to know about the experiences of survivors who have reported a
sexual assault, whether they felt supported, and what the Department can do to make this
difficult process easier. This anonymous survey is the primary way of gathering quantifiable
and quick data from as many people as possible to shed light on what is happening for
survivors in the military. However, surveys may feel impersonal and we try to balance that
with the need to get this important feedback quickly to leadership in an objective, standard
manner. We know that all the unique experiences of survivors cannot be summed up in a
single survey. Also, some survivors you work with want to put this behind them and move
on. We hope, despite this, you will offer the SES to survivors and ask them to consider
sharing their experiences and letting the Department know how they are doing.
Why am I being notified, as a SARC/UVA/VA, about the survey?

You are being notified about the survey because you were identified as a SARC, UVA, or
VA on the Department of Defense Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Program (DSAACP) list provided by SAPRO. SARCs have the primary role in offering the survey to
eligible survivors for this data collection effort, and we want to ensure they are aware of the
survey, their role, and the importance of this effort. We ask that at their next appointment
with a survivor, SARCs offer the survivor a survey and assign a ticket number to him/her.
Although a ticket number is randomly generated by the Ticket Assignment Site for each
survivor, that ticket number is not linked to the survivor (i.e., the survivor’s name, Service,
paygrade). Tickets are assigned to ensure only eligible respondents have access to the survey
and will not be used to identify the survivor in any way. SARCs can reach out to UVAs/VAs
and Special Victims’ Counsel (SVCs) to get in touch with survivors if those persons have
more regular contact with survivors.
When is the suspense? How long should I offer the survey?

The SES is an ongoing survey effort, so there is technically no "close date." However, we
anticipate pulling down the data for the FY2015 report in early December. Due to processing
time, paper surveys must be returned by November 22, 2015 in order to be included in the
FY2015 report.
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Why should survivors participate?


This is their chance to be heard on issues that directly affect them, including resources,
training, and perceptions of their Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) program.
Their responses on this survey make a difference!
What do I do if I have a survivor who does not want to take the survey?

We understand that completion of the survey is voluntary. However, regardless of whether
the survivor wants to take the survey, please assign him/her a ticket number. This will help
us calculate accurate estimates of the number of sexual assault survivors. Also, we want to
collect SARC narratives on data collection experiences/issues. If you experience survivors
who insist they do not want to take the survey, please contact the Survey Processing Center
by phone (toll-free at 1-800-881-5307) or e-mail (DODHRA.SES-Survey@mail.mil) to let us
know that this is occurring.
Why do I need to assign everyone a ticket number, regardless of whether they want to participate?

The fundamental purpose of the ticket number, per industry standard, is to ensure only
eligible survivors take the survey and minimize the "general public" from accessing the
survey site. The ticket number does not link to the survivor in any way and really only serves
this methodological purpose. In addition, we request that SARCs provide a ticket number to
eligible survivors regardless of whether they want to participate in the survey to help us
calculate estimates of the number of sexual assault survivors who are engaged in SAPR
services, as this number may differ from the number of sexual assault reports.
Why, if it is voluntary, do we need to call the Survey Processing Center if survivors don’t want to
take the survey?

The SES is a voluntary survey, and survivors are not required to participate. It is not
necessary to call the Survey Processing Center to report every survivor that declines to take
the survey. It is needed from a research standpoint to have a sense of how many survivors are
refusing to participate versus those who are not aware of the survey effort. In addition, it is
helpful for us to be aware of incidents of distress with the survey questions or survey effort.
In these instances, we request that the SARC contact the Survey Processing Center so we can
monitor the types of complaints and issues that SARCs are hearing about the SES.
What do I do if I (or my UVA/VA) have no communication with a survivor or have no survivors
who meet the eligibility criteria?

DMDC would like to hear from SARCs if they have issues with data collection. If you have
experienced either of the above situations, please contact the Survey Processing Center by
phone (toll-free at 1-800-881-5307) or e-mail (DODHRA.SES-Survey@mail.mil).
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I am a SARC and have been getting notifications for several surveys. Didn’t I just receive a similar
survey asking for my help?

There are two surveys currently in the field asking for SARCs’ assistance. One of the
surveys is for SARCs to offer to survivors of sexual assault to complete (2015 Survivor
Experience Survey). The 2015 QuickCompass of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response
Related Responders (2015 QSAPR) is for you as a SARC, UVA, or VA to complete about
your own experiences working in the SAPR office. Results from the 2015 QSAPR will
inform SAPR programs of how well the program is supported and executed.
What do I do if I have a survivor who is in a deployed location or if neither my UVA/VA nor I have
face-to-face contact with a survivor?

If you know the survivor’s phone number, you may call the survivor to offer the survey using
an approved phone script that is located on the Ticket Assignment Site. You can provide the
ticket number over the phone and email the website link to the respondent while he/she is on
the phone. If you have survivors who are deployed or who do not have face-to-face contact
with you or your UVA/VA, and you do not know the survivor’s phone number, you can
email the survivor information about the survey with a link to the website and request that
he/she call you to receive their unique ticket number.
What do I do if my UVA/VA or the Special Victims’ Counsel (SVC)/Victims’ Legal Counsel (VLC)
is the one who has primary contact with the survivor?

Please have the UVAs/VAs/SVCs/VLCs reach out to the survivors to encourage them to
either contact you to get more details about this survey or to directly contact the Survey
Processing Center via toll-free at 1-800-881-5307 or e-mail DODHRA.SESSurvey@mail.mil to get information about the survey and ticket number. Originally SARCs
were the only ones who could assign ticket numbers; however, we have expanded the role of
the UVAs/VAs/SVCs/VLCs so they can also help survivors get access to the survey.
When do you expect the results of the survey to be available?


The results will be available around May 2016.
Results from the 2014 Survivor Experience Survey can be found here:
https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/dwp/dwp_surveys.jsp
Will I ever see the results of the survey?

DMDC will post survey results on the following website following release of the report:
https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/dwp/dwp_surveys.jsp
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