TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The Air Force is undergoing a culture change when it comes to awareness and prevention of interpersonal and self-directed violence. Until now, training has been centered on “Do this” or “Don’t do that”. The Green Dot strategy focuses on ways to build positive relationships and steps airmen can take to foster a culture free from power-based personal or self-directed violence. The 2017 Green Dot training will not only center around a refresher of the 2016 training which was based on eradicating power-based violence but will show how we can help eliminate self-directed violence as well.
“It’s so much better we focus on the 98 percent of our population who are good people doing the right things every day,” {Alvin quote} said Alvin Chandler, a specialist for Primary Prevention of Violence and the primary prevention subject matter expert for the 72nd Air Base Wing. When we focus on the smallest act of confronting or distracting a would-be assailant, it could prevent a violent act or “red dot” from occurring. By not tolerating violence, the training shows how each airman becomes part of a coalition of green dots, which will eventually replace the red dots. “It gives people a positive role and let’s them know the smallest things add up. This becomes empowering to people instead of pointing fingers.”
2017 Green Dot Training efficiently merged two training requirements, it fulfills SAPR and Suicide Prevention mandatory courses. Those who have not received any prior Green Dot training will be required to take a 90-minute class, which will cover all the subject material of both the previous suicide prevention training and Green Dot, while a second, 60-minute “refresher” class will be available for those who completed last year’s training. Classes are scheduled to start March 15, with leadership refresher courses and Socially Influential personnel.
Mr. Chandler is looking for facilitators to execute the training across this installation. “We’re looking for motivated personnel (enlisted, officers and civilians) with an interest in preventing interpersonal and self-directed violence to become Green Dot implementers and coordinators,” he said. The ideal facilitator will be comfortable speaking in public and speaking about these subjects, and be an advocate for a “Rock the Dot” culture change across Tinker AFB. Potential Green Dot implementers and coordinators must complete an application and memorandum of agreement, to be signed by their supervisor and commander, in order to be considered for the role.
For more details, e-mail Alvin Chandler at alvin.chandler@us.af.mil.