Bystander intervention training: Take a stand against sexual assault

News > Bystander intervention training: Take a stand against sexual assault

Bystander intervention training: Take a stand against sexual assault

Posted 5/21/2012

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by Master Sgt. Angelita Colon-Francia
Air Force Public Affairs Agency

5/21/2012 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Bystander Intervention Training, or BIT, is the Air Force's direct strategy to provide Airmen with knowledge to recognize potentially harmful situations and take action to mitigate possible harm to their fellow wingman.

Bystander intervention training is mandatory for all military personnel and for civilian supervisors of military personnel by June 30. The training is designed to address three different audiences: men, women, and leaders.

"Intervention by third parties is often the key to stopping violence and sexual assaults against anyone," said BIT instructor Master Sgt. Kimberly Perez. "Unfortunately, fear, complacency, the desire not to get involved in disputes of others or the lack of courage can result in tragedy."

In most sexual assault cases, there is one person who is clearly hurt. Often, there are others who are affected, and there may be bystanders who saw and heard things that made them feel uncomfortable, but they did nothing to intervene. As a result, they potentially missed a critical opportunity to prevent pain and suffering, especially when the event involved a person they love or care about.

"The intent is to empower Airmen to better recognize how to safely intervene and to give them the confidence to intervene in situations that involve, or have the potential to involve sexual assault," said Master Sgt. Shonda Rizo, BIT instructor.

During each 90-minute class, BIT instructors lead participants through several scenarios based on actual events to stimulate discussion about behaviors that can create environments that allow a perpetrator to act.

The scenarios provide valuable lessons about what can happen if a witness to abuse, violence or harassment decides not to step in and get involved as well as strategies they, as bystanders, can use to prevent or defuse situations that might potentially lead to acts of sexual harassment or assault.

Rizzo and Perez suggested several intervention strategies bystanders can use when they see, hear or otherwise recognize signs of an inappropriate or unsafe situation that may lead to a sexual assault: direct intervention, in which a third party steps in to calm the situation or stop the altercation; delegation, in which the bystander brings in others to help or goes to a superior to address the problem; and distraction, which could involve telling a story to stop an argument from escalating or prevent an assault.

"If the bystander has the courage to step up and intervene, she or he could defuse a potential sexual assault," said Sergeant Perez.

Tech Sgt. Samuel Martinez, a knowledge operations manager for the Air Force Intelligence Analysis Agency, said participating in bystander intervention training has made him feel less apprehensive about getting involved in situations where another person is being harassed or assaulted.

"I feel more confident knowing that there are different ways I can intervene if necessary to help someone in those situations," said Martinez. "There are things that I can do to offer help and be safe."

For more information on the sexual assault prevention program, or to receive assistance 24/7 you can contact your installation Sexual Assault Response Coordinator. Information is also available on the Department of Defense's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response website at http://www.sapr.mil.

Comments

6/7/2012 5:52:35 PM ET
I thought high school was bad about teaching us stuff, that was rediculous. I waste more personal time sitting in these classes than the average adult does in civilian life. I'm pretty sure my parents taught me this stuff when I was a kid. I really don't need to hear it again. 12 months...cant wait

trained, to death

5/31/2012 11:43:52 AM ET
I am appalled at some of the comments posted on here from professionals in our Armed Forces. As a Senior NCO not to mention a military member it is our duty to be trained to address these kinds of concerns. Not just for ourselves but for our young airmen that we are SUPPOSED to be mentoring and looking out for. A few of the comments state that we already know what is being trained because that is how we were raised. Remember...not everyone was raised the same and alchohol does not affect everyone the same way either. Let's give this training a chance and realize that everyone gets something different out of it and hopefully the training will reach the right people and have some good results.

SMSgt Sheri, Illinois

5/31/2012 8:46:50 AM ET
As most of these comments show everyone just looks at training as a joke. Of course why wouldn't we right we are trained to death in the AF. To be honest if you take it seriuosly and realize that yes this may seem obvious to you to many people they don't look at it that way. This is a HUGE PROBLEM in the AF and all branches. It isnt just stupid young drinking airman it is others of rank that do these things to. The reason why no one thinks it will work or just laughs at the training is becuase most who have been to parties and out have been in a situation where they know well enough smeone could of done something to them. Nothing happend so they feel it won't ever happen but it does and will. This matter is no joke and those teaching the class along with all the vicitim adovcates take the time to learn the make up of these issues and really want to get the message across. This class isnt to bash males but most the data out there is about male on female attacks because men do no

WOW, WA

5/28/2012 12:39:16 AM ET
Useless training and money wasted on hiring people to train us on this issue. Serious issue needs serious training put money into it instead of more CBTS.

Dane, Colorado

5/24/2012 12:20:51 PM ET
I'm a woman and our BIT class was awkward. At one point our instructor asked who knew what a train was and then explained it to the women who raised their hands. I'm a firm believer that if you don't have the guts to stand up for someone when they are in trouble then going to a class and being TOLD to do it isn't going to do much good. @MSgtRAW there's nothing that us youngsters love more than having you old timers tell us that our parents didn't raise us right. Thanks for the vote of confidence.

USAF TSgt, Joint Base Lewis-McChord

5/24/2012 11:29:06 AM ET
I am a woman and our BIT class was awkward and unnecessary. At one point our instructor asked who didn't know what a train was and then explained it to the women who raised their hands. I firmly believe that if you don't already have the guts to stand up and help someone going to a class and being TOLD to stand up and help them isn't going to be very effective - when it comes down to it you probably still aren't going to take action.

USAF TSgt, JBLM WA

5/24/2012 11:18:15 AM ET
It's a societal problem people do not wish to get involved. You'd be better served invoking and enforcing a type of good samaritan law where a bystander is also held accountable. Just look at intoxication at holiday parties and other unit events where most do not want to ruffle feathers and won't insist on handing over the keys especially when it involves someone superior in rank. People like their anonymity.

John G, Virginia

5/24/2012 11:09:24 AM ET
Some of us old timers find this kind of training ridiculous because these values were instilled in us by our parents. The very idea that anyone in the USAF needs this kind of training is to me anyway quite bizzare. Do parents not teach their kids right and wrong anymore

MSgtRAW, Wright-Patt

5/24/2012 12:03:07 AM ET
@ Astonished. I agree with you as well. Sexual assault IS a real problem. Perhaps the session you attended provided new insight but mine was a MOTO brief. MOTO is short for Master Of The Obvious. I am NOT happy to say that I do not see this training making a significant difference in countering the problem. Since many cases occur in situations involving alcohol then leaders need to provide assurances that those who intervene will NOT get in trouble for being party to an ARI IF the situation deteriorates and LE became involved. This could make a difference.

Living, The Dream

5/23/2012 12:17:04 PM ET
This training is not based in reality. @Taken you drink that blue kool-aid youre going to make an excellent E-9.

dontcare, reality

5/23/2012 10:12:28 AM ET
Actually the training I went through was one of the better formats I've seen for this type of training. Bottom line is just about EVERY sexual assault incident I have seen involved several people who had numerous chances to intervene and chose not to. We need to get our Airmen into the mindset of doing what is right and speaking up when they see something they know is wrong.

Trained, DC

5/22/2012 11:11:56 PM ET
If you go into the training to take it serious then the training isn't stupid. If the class just makes jokes during the disscussions then the instructor and yourself aren't being very professional. This training should never be ridiculous.

Taken, Serious

5/22/2012 5:29:52 PM ET
As the two posted comments show not very many people are taking this training seriously. Sexual Assault is a very real problem in our Air Force and I'm afraid this training will not have any impact on the Bystanders it was meant to teach.

Astonished, at the responses

5/22/2012 2:59:34 PM ET
I don't consider myself to be overly sensitive but this was a very insulting training. The whole discussion seemed to be about how evil men are and how we will get women drunk to rape them. It was a lesson on how to protect the innocent women from the big mean men. Is that how it was at every base

Paul, Hanscom

5/21/2012 7:30:19 PM ET
@ Caveman. Agreed. Keep your certificate in a safe place or prepare to do it again.

Living, The Dream

5/21/2012 3:33:03 PM ET
Some of the most ridiculous training I have been through in the AF.

Caveman, Bedrock

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