Bystander Intervention Training Kicks Off April 26

  • Published
  • By Brig. Gen. Everett H. Thomas
  • Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center
Kirtland Air Force Base, NM --  Sexual assault -- no one likes to talk about it and we like to think it would never happen to us or to anyone we know. What if it did? What if it happened to someone in your family or someone you knew? What would you do?

Would you look the other way? Would you pretend it wasn't happening? Or, would you help?

No one would knowingly want anyone they know to be sexually assaulted, so why would you allow or condone it and not "step in" to prevent it? As Airmen, we are entrusted with our Nation's most precious resource -- ours sons and daughters -- and it is our duty and responsibility to protect them.

As part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Kirtland is launching BIT--Bystander Intervention Training--which was initiated by the Air Force earlier this year. I plan to personally kick off the training here at the Center April 26.

This training has three modules -- an integrated module for leadership and then two separate modules specifically targeted for men and women and replaces the annual Sexual Assault Prevention and Response training. To promote interactive discussion among participants, class size for each module will be limited to 25 people. The course objectives are threefold:
· To understand and promote the concept of bystander intervention as it relates to sexual assault prevention and response, and to lead by example with others in the Air Force.
· To examine how we can effectively recognize and respond to situations that require intervention at the leadership level, including superior-to-subordinate, peer-to-peer and subordinate-to-superior.
· To reinforce the importance of setting a standard for all Airmen of a positive social climate that does not tolerate or foster inappropriate or disrespectful conduct.

The effects of sexual assault go beyond the victim -- it can have a ripple effect -- on the victim's family, friends, and workplace. Bystander intervention is a strategy to prevent sexual assault in the Air Force and it is a culture we need to embrace. As Airmen, it is our responsibility to lead by example -- we have a higher calling in our service to our Nation and in our responsibility to each other.

Our Air Force is built on teamwork and integrity -- it is important for us to work as a team to do what we can to prevent sexual assault in any form or fashion -- we can lead the way to change the climate and culture associated with sexual assault.

I challenge each of you to do your part. Take the training and learn the skills to prevent problems before they arise. It's a simple matter of respect for our fellow Airmen - they are our teammates and deserve nothing less.