Combating violence one green dot at a time

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Anania Tekurio
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  In continued efforts to encourage bystander intervention as well as prevent violence and abuse of any kind, the U.S. Air Force has joined forces with the non-profit Green Dot organization.

Green Dot etc. is an organization focused on providing tools to prevent power-based personal violence while also recognizing the link between effective prevention and effective intervention.

"The program was created 10 years ago and initially used in the civilian sector," said Brandy Wyatt, 28th Force Support Squadron school liaison officer and Ellsworth Green Dot lead coordinator. "It was primarily aimed at 18 to 24-year-olds to decrease domestic and sexual violence in high schools and universities - and has since shown to have decreased these types of violent acts by 50 percent."

Informed by social change theory, the Green Dot program targets all community members as potential bystanders and seeks to engage them through awareness, education and skills practice.

Greed Dot allows Airmen to participate in interpersonal violence prevention in a manner of their own choosing. It changes the discussion about interpersonal violence by acknowledging that most Airmen want to prevent violence but face barriers to taking action.

"The program focuses on violence prevention that capitalizes on the power of peer and cultural influence across all levels of society," Wyatt said. "It is a great way to start a positive cultural change."

Training for all Ellsworth Airmen and civilians is scheduled to begin in May leading to 100 percent of base populace being Green-Dot-trained by the end of the year. There are eight implementers in addition to two coordinators to assist with conducting training.

"Our goal is to equip our Airmen with additional tools and skills necessary to prevent violence," said Tech. Sgt. Michael Simmons, 28th Maintenance Squadron B-1 avionics production supervisor and Ellsworth Green Dot implementer. "It is the first step in helping Airmen understand what they can do."

For more information on Green Dot training, call Wyatt at (605) 385-1381.