Green Dot training to feature guest speaker

Published March 1, 2017
By Senior Master Sgt. Eric Peterson
120th Airlift Wing Public Affairs Office

GREAT FALLS, Mont. -- The Montana Air National Guard Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, Debra Glenn, is busy preparing instruction materials for the Green Dot training scheduled for the upcoming April Guard drill.

Montana Air National Guard Sexual Assault Response Coordinator Debra Glenn prepares instructional material for the Green Dot training to be held during the April Guard drill at the 120th Airlift Wing in Great Falls, Mont. Feb. 23, 2017. (U.S. Air National Guard photo/Senior Master Sgt. Eric Peterson)

The annual wing training coincides with the national Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) observed in April.

According to the U.S. Air Force Communication Waypoints, Green Dot was the first step in a three-phase Air Force-wide violence prevention program that began in 2015. The Green Dot program provided Airmen tools to prevent sexual assault and other violent behaviors during the initial training provided in 2016. This year’s training will address suicide prevention and sexual assault prevention in one single session allowing Airmen to complete both annual training requirements.

Glenn said Green Dot provides the Air Force with an evidence-based program that helps meet the goals of their strategic plan for violence prevention.

“They wanted to take an evidence-based approach to it, more of a scientific approach to how can we actually create this cultural shift and a change for preventing violence,” Glenn said. “Air Force looked at all of the programs out there that were available and Green Dot had proved to be the most effective program.”

Glenn said Green Dot created a customized program for the Air Force that was based on successful programs being used on college campuses.

This year the 120th Airlift Wing training will also include the theme of “magnetic advocacy,” or taking a positive approach to sexual assault prevention and violence prevention.

“We’re working to create that cultural shift where people are all treated with respect at all times and people feel safe to come forward and make a report,” Glenn said. “Our goal with the magnetic advocacy is just to help empower people to creating that sort of (open) environment.”

The co-director of the We End Violence Project, Jeffrey S. Bucholtz, M.A., has been invited to provide his presentation on sexual violence prevention to 120th AW Airmen.

The We End Violence webpage states Bucholtz is an award-winning adjunct faculty member at Southwestern College teaching oral communication and public speaking. In addition, he serves as a faculty lecturer teaching popular culture and counseling at San Diego State University.

Glenn said Bucholtz is scheduled to provide three presentations designed for specific audiences. His magnetic advocacy presentation is designed for all Airmen to attend. He will conduct a presentation for supervisory personnel that is designed to empower leaders to create a positive relationship that will allow Airmen to feel safe with coming to them with their concerns. Bucholtz will also share his extensive education and experience in communication to conduct a one-hour presentation to all Airmen interested in improving their public speaking skills.

In addition, Bucholtz is scheduled to take time to speak to members of the Chief’s Council and provide a specialized three-hour seminar designed specifically to coach MTANG Green Dot implementers and coordinators.

“He’s a very dynamic, very engaging speaker,” Glenn said. “It works well with the message of Green Dot.”

Glenn said wing leadership would like as many members as possible to attend the April Green Dot training.

“It’s going to be our best Green Dot of the year,” Glenn said. “We will have other make up classes for people who absolutely cannot attend, but it’s going to be the most interactive and the most fun Green Dot that we’re going to have for the entire year.”

The 120th AW Green Dot Coordinator, Master Sgt. Katie Hatfield, said she is passionate about Green Dot and sees the program as an important concept that all Airmen can learn and integrate into their lives.

“It’s important so that we don’t have the statistics on violence that we have right now,” Hatfield said. “So we can teach our members to prevent it and see the signs of suicide and violence and to intervene before it happens.”

All training presentations held at the 120th AW are scheduled to be conducted in the Larsen Room. One Green Dot presentation followed by a magnetic advocacy briefing is tentatively scheduled to be conducted at the 219th RED HORSE Squadron at Malmstrom Air Force Base on Sunday of the April drill.