BIT making intervention the norm

  • Published
  • By Monica Mendoza
  • 21st Space Wing Public Affairs staff writer
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --  The stories of intervention vary from one Airman who helped a woman escape a situation where she could have been sexually assaulted to a Department of Defense civilian who merely asked an intoxicated woman being led by the arm if she needed help.

No matter how the scenario plays out, intervention is happening, said Jeanine Arnold, 21st Space Wing Sexual Assault Coordinator. She is encouraged by the feedback from the recent Bystander Intervention Training sessions on Peterson and the 21st SW geographically separated units.

"The classes are making intervention more of the group norm," Ms. Arnold said.

Research by sociologists and psychologists show that bystander intervention is one of the best ways to prevent sexual violence, she said. This year, all Airmen and Department of Defense employees are taking Bystander Intervention Training, a 90-minute course designed to get Airmen thinking about what they might do if they witness the potential for a sexual assault.

Air Force members already have a strong commitment to the "Wingman" concept, where they watch out for one another, Ms. Arnold said. The BIT just reinforces that concept and sharpens their intervention skills.

In May, Airman 1st Class Edward Todd, 21st Dental Squadron, intervened when he saw an intoxicated woman surrounded by four men outside a Denver night club.

"After she continuously said, 'no,' the men changed their tactics and tried to convince the young woman that they were trustworthy and began imploring her to allow them to drive her home," Airman Todd said.

He asked the woman if she needed help, she indicated that she did and he led her away from the group and put her into a taxi.

"I would say that Bystander Intervention Training helped me recognize situations that don't necessarily seem legitimate," he said.

BIT is provided in lieu of annual sexual assault prevention and response training. Air Force members must complete the training by June 2012. So far, about half of Peterson's Airmen and DoD civilians have taken the class.

About 60 percent of all violent crime is witnessed by someone, Ms. Arnold said. But, only about 10 percent of people who witness a crime intervene. In the BIT, Airmen talk about possible scenarios and what it means to be a bystander. The presence of a bystander makes a completed rape 44 percent less likely to happen, said Karen Izdepski, SARC assistant. But, people still need to look out for signs, like an intoxicated person being pulled out of a bar by another person or an intoxicated person being urged to drink more by someone who is not looking out for them.

Sometimes intervention can be as simple as asking someone if they need help, said Jill Sosebee, a Peterson Air Force Base operator. She recently was enjoying an evening in Florida, where she was on temporary duty, when she noticed an intoxicated couple. It appeared that the man was pulling on the woman's arm and that he was trying to coax her into walking with him. When the couple sat on a nearby bench, Ms. Sossebee went to them and said, "hello."

"Is everything OK here?" she asked the women, looking her in the eye.

"Yes," everything was fine, the woman said.

It was a short interaction. Ms. Sosebee left, but she alerted a nearby police officer of the couple's status.

"This is like neighborhood watch," Ms. Sosebee said about bystander intervention. "We all watch out for one another. I just said, 'Hey, how you folks doing?' I lightly got in there, I was not a threat."

 

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