Green Dot training teaches wingman concept

Robert F. Kennedy once said, “Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of an entire generation.”

Interpersonal violence is a serious problem that, like Kennedy suggests, will take more than just a few individuals to fix. By introducing Green Dot, the Air Force is embracing this concept and working to eliminate it.

 “We’re refocusing how we look at instances of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault and stalking at our installations,” said Terri, specialist for the Primary Prevention of Violence at Nellis and Creech Air Force Bases. “There’s almost always a bystander around, or someone who can intervene in this type of situation. We’re letting the community know that they have a moral responsibility to step in.”

Green Dot is a national campaign focused on ending violence with training. By teaching about its dangers and how Airmen they can intervene, as well as acknowledging the fact that people have personal barriers a base community can work together to reduce the threat of abuse.

During the training, Airmen watcha slideshow of a simulated installation covered in small red dots, representing violent situations within the community.

The red dots represent a threat, a hit, a rape or an individual choice to do nothing, according to Green Dot’s official website.

After Airmen see the impact the red dots can have on a community, the presenter introduces green dots on the map, which slowly overcome the red to create an entire map of green. Green dots can be something as simple as pulling a friend out of a high risk situation, displaying an awareness poster in places they will be easily seen, or putting a green dot message on your Facebook page.

“A bystander is the person witnessing the violence,” Terri said. “We’re all bystanders, but we also have a choice. I can be an active bystander and choose to do something, or I can be a passive bystander and choose to allow the situation to go on.”

Besides teaching Airmen how to be active bystanders, Green Dot training also teaches different ways around their barriers using the three D’s: being direct, delegating the situation to someone else or distracting the perpetrator.

“When somebody steps in, the base communities are reducing the amount of red dots and replacing them with green dots,” Terri said. “This is the only way we can truly get rid of violence. It’s not just one or two Airmen, but everyone doing their part to spread the message.”