Bystander intervention means Wingman Concept

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Julius Delos Reyes
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  Picture this: While at a party, you notice a friend trying to force a conversation with an acquaintance who didn't want to be bothered. Your friend was saying sexually suggestive words, and was inappropriately touching the other individual in the process.

What should you do?

"Bystander Intervention Training is the new mandatory sexual assault prevention and response education for all Airmen," said Capt. Natosha Reed, Aviano Sexual Assault Response Coordinator. "It is designed to teach people how to effectively intervene in a situation that may lead to a dangerous or criminal event, namely sexual assault."

Sexual assault is defined as intentional sexual contact, characterized by use of force, physical threat or abuse of authority or when the victim does not or cannot consent.

"Most people think that sexual assault means rape or some type of intercourse has occurred, which is not true," Captain Reed said. "If someone touches you in a sexual manner and you don't consent, it's considered sexual assault."

According to Captain Reed, Aviano statistics show that 75 percent of assaults occur in a place that is considered safe to a victim. In addition, 75 percent of assaults are committed by people who the victims know. Other important factors to consider are the ages of victims and the use of alcohol. All victims who reported sexual assaults to the SARC in fiscal year 2010 were between the ages of 18 to 24, and 83 percent of those cases involved alcohol consumption.

The ultimate goal of the training is to help people realize and accept that it is their responsibility to intervene in situations involving inappropriate comments and behavior, said Captain Reed. It aims to help people recognize that there is more than one way to offer assistance.

Beginning January 2011, the SARC and other trained victim advocates will facilitate sessions, which have been crafted especially for the Air Force SAPR program. Each 90-minute session is aimed at three specific audiences -- leadership, males and females. Sessions are divided by gender and leadership to help facilitate a better learning experience. The leadership session targets commanders, first sergeants, group superintendents and other leadership across the 31st Fighter Wing.

"Bystander intervention is a strategy that motivates and mobilizes people, who may see, hear or recognize signs of an inappropriate or unsafe situation, to act," said Tech. Sgt. Kenneth Kohl, 31st FW victim's advocate. "It's important because it is another way to keep our people safe."

Sergeant Kohl said bystander intervention takes courage to step up and get involved. The bystander prevention training helps Airmen realize different things that can be done to intervene, with the main focus of getting involved.

"If you see someone who needs help, then help," he said. "This is essentially the Wingman concept -- looking out for one another and stepping in to help when needed."